Bruce Cassidy and Kris Knoblauch are still at the center of the coaching problems in Edmonton, and the Oilers aren’t even allowed to reach out to the person they seem to want the most.
This is what Elliotte Friedman mentioned on Sunday. As of May 18, Edmonton still couldn’t have conversations with Cassidy, and Friedman mentioned that the next day or two should make things clearer about where this might go.
This is important because Edmonton has already made the tough decision. The Oilers officially let go of Knoblauch and assistant Mark Stuart on May 14, so now they are actively searching for a new coach instead of just talking casually about it.
Stan Bowman is the one leading this effort. The Oilers list him as their general manager and vice president of hockey operations, and this is quickly becoming one of the most significant decisions during his time in Edmonton.
What’s strange is that Cassidy is technically available, but not really ready to be approached. The Golden Knights fired him on March 29 and hired John Tortorella as their new head coach, but Vegas still has control over whether other teams can chat with him while he’s still under contract.
This is why this search feels stuck. Edmonton might know exactly who they want, but knowing who that is and actually getting to speak with them are two very different things.
Elliotte Friedman: Regarding the Oilers: As I understand it right now… they still can’t have discussions with Bruce Cassidy; I believe we’ll know more about Cassidy in the next 24-48 hours – NHL Now (5/18)
A significant twist just appeared in the rumors about Bruce Cassidy going to Edmonton. The longer this situation continues, the more intense the discussions become. Earlier reports indicated that Vegas had already denied permission to both the Oilers and the Kings, so Edmonton isn’t the only team facing this issue.
Still, the Oilers are the team getting the most attention because they have already created a job opening. As soon as you let go of a coach who just got a new contract that lasts until 2028-29, people don’t expect you to be patient for long.
That’s why the timing from Friedman is important. If Edmonton finds a coach soon, they can stop just talking about it and start making real changes. If they don’t, Bowman needs to figure out if he should keep waiting for Cassidy or start looking at other options seriously.
This is the gamble they are taking. Each day the Oilers remain uncertain, the search starts to feel less like a real plan and more like just waiting around.
Cassidy is still the most well-known person being considered for the job. But until Vegas lets him go, Edmonton can’t even have a meeting with a coach they are interested in.
Leave a Reply