The Edmonton Oilers may be preparing for a coaching pivot as their pursuit of Bruce Cassidy continues to run into resistance from the Vegas Golden Knights.
Speaking on the latest episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman suggested Edmonton could explore a short-term coaching solution if Cassidy remains unavailable.
“I had thought they were going to wait for Cassidy and I’m starting to get some signal that maybe they won’t,” Friedman said. “And I want to stress, this is a theory. Do they bring in someone for a year?”
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The speculation comes after NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly publicly backed Vegas’ decision to block interview requests for Cassidy, who remains under contract through June 2027 despite being fired in March.
Daly stated that the Golden Knights are “clearly within their contractual rights,” while Bettman called the situation “completely reasonable” under the terms of Cassidy’s deal.
Those comments appear to have cooled expectations that Vegas will suddenly reverse course.
Veteran stopgap becoming a realistic option for Oilers
Former Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy takes questions during a presser at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Friedman outlined why Edmonton may need a contingency plan.
“They’ve basically made it sound like it’s up to Vegas’ will to clear him,” Friedman said. “They’ve basically said Vegas is well within its rights. He doesn’t have the language that’s necessary for Edmonton to be able to talk to him.
“So unless you think the Golden Knights are suddenly going to change their philosophy out of the graciousness of their hearts or whatever, you might have to go down that route.”
Friedman added that Vegas has privately signaled it has no intention of granting permission, saying, “I don’t think it’s impossible. As a matter of fact, privately, those are the smoke signals Vegas has sent out.”
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That reality has fueled speculation around experienced coaches such as Peter Laviolette and Craig Berube. Friedman noted Edmonton has recently interviewed Laviolette and believes Berube has also been part of the process.
“Exactly,” Friedman said about coaches’ interest in coaching a team led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. “Again, this is just my theory. But I’ve begun to wonder about this.”
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The reason behind the Oilers’ urgency
The Oilers’ urgency is understandable. Edmonton finished 41-30-11, ranked among the NHL’s best offensive teams, but defensive breakdowns and inconsistent goaltending contributed to a first-round playoff exit against Anaheim. The organization responded by dismissing Kris Knoblauch while targeting Cassidy’s defensive structure and accountability.
MORE: Connor McDavid waiting before making 100% commitment to Oilers future
Now, a one-year veteran hire makes sense if management remains convinced Cassidy is the long-term answer. With McDavid and Draisaitl still in their championship window, Edmonton cannot afford a prolonged search. An experienced coach could stabilize the roster, improve defensive details, and keep the team competitive while the Cassidy situation plays out over the next year.