The Edmonton Oilers have sought and were denied permission to speak with former Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy, league sources told insider Frank Seravalli.
The Golden Knights shockingly fired Cassidy and brought in John Tortorella on March 29, with only eight games remaining in the regular season. Any team interested in Cassidy must first get permission from the Golden Knights until his contract with Vegas expires. Edmonton and Vegas are both in the Pacific Division.
The Oilers don't currently have a coaching vacancy. Kris Knoblauch is still in his role after Edmonton's first-round exit at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks. Under Knoblauch, the Oilers lost in back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals before this season.
Edmonton superstar Connor McDavid's two-year contract extension begins next season.
Cassidy guided the Golden Knights to a Stanley Cup in 2023. Vegas went 178-99-43 in his four-season tenure. Tortorella has the Golden Knights in the second round after beating the Utah Mammoth.
