Bruce Cassidy and Kris Knoblauch are now both linked to a question about Edmonton, and Elliotte Friedman just gave some important insights on this.
Friedman mentioned that if Cassidy gets to pick, he would probably choose Edmonton. This doesn’t wrap up the situation, but it does change things quickly.
Recently, Toronto let go of Craig Berube on Wednesday, with new general manager John Chayka and senior advisor Mats Sundin making that choice.
The Maple Leafs are actively looking for a new coach. Edmonton is in a different situation. The Oilers still have Knoblauch listed as their head coach and Stan Bowman as their general manager, which adds some complexity and makes things more exciting.
That’s why Friedman’s comment is important. Cassidy is not just being linked to an empty position; he is being connected to a team that already has a coach but seems like a better fit for winning right now.
It’s easy to understand why. Edmonton has a team ready to compete immediately, while Toronto is still trying to figure out what their team will look like.
Toronto’s decision to let go of Berube followed what Sportsnet called a disappointing season, and this firing started a challenging search for a new coach right away.
Elliotte Friedman: If Bruce Cassidy has a choice, I would guess it’s probably Edmonton, but we still don’t know how this will unfold – Sportsnet Today (5/13)
Elliotte Friedman shares big news about the Oilers’ next head coach.
Cassidy was let go by Vegas on March 30, and they hired John Tortorella to take his place. He left with a record of 178 wins, 99 losses, and 43 overtime losses over four seasons, along with a Stanley Cup title.
That type of coach generally doesn’t wait around for a long rebuild. He seeks a team that aims to win right away, not one where the management is still figuring things out and making changes.
On the surface, Edmonton seems to fit that better. The tension around Knoblauch adds to this since it indicates that the Oilers are being proactive instead of just being passive.
Toronto can promote its big market, high pressure, and star players. But after letting Berube go, the Leafs also need to show they are stable, and that’s harder to do when the new leadership has just started.
That doesn’t mean Cassidy is definitely going to Edmonton. Friedman pointed out that things could still change. The key point is that the Oilers seem like the right place for Cassidy based on timing.
And that’s what really hurts Toronto. The Leafs finally have a chance to hire a new coach, but the most sought-after coach might still prefer to look west for a better opportunity to quickly compete.
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