Gary Bettman and Bill Daly step in over Vegas blocking Bruce Cassidy
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Daniel Lucente
Jun 3, 2026 (11:00)
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Photo credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Bill Daly didn't just back Vegas on Bruce Cassidy. He told every coach in the league to check their contract language immediately.
Ahead of Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final in Raleigh, the NHL's top brass held their annual state-of-the-union press conference.
When the Cassidy question came up, both Commissioner Gary Bettman and Deputy Commissioner Daly sided firmly with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Daly: "Obviously, we don't find it unreasonable, because we're allowing it to happen. I do think Vegas is clearly within their contractual rights to do what they're doing, and we also understand and appreciate that they're on a Stanley Cup run right now, and they don't need the distractions necessarily."
Daly: "Where we go from there, obviously, we've talked to all the parties involved in this, including Bruce, so he knows what our position on the subject, he might not be happy about it, but he was accepting of it. We'll see where we go."
Bettman: "When you sign and insist upon a long-term contract, there are certain policies and consequences of that, and so where we find ourselves is completely reasonable."
Daly: "There are contracts that exist in the league that would not allow for this to happen. This was not one of them."
Daly: "Where we go from there, obviously, we've talked to all the parties involved in this, including Bruce, so he knows what our position on the subject, he might not be happy about it, but he was accepting of it. We'll see where we go."
Bettman: "When you sign and insist upon a long-term contract, there are certain policies and consequences of that, and so where we find ourselves is completely reasonable."
Daly: "There are contracts that exist in the league that would not allow for this to happen. This was not one of them."
Daly called the situation reasonable and confirmed Vegas is within its contractual rights to block the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings from interviewing their former coach.
Bettman went further, noting that long-term contracts carry consequences - a comment that seemed to place responsibility on Cassidy himself for signing a five-year deal worth a reported $4.5 million annually.
But the real story wasn't the ruling. It was one sentence buried in Daly's answer.
The sentence that changes everything
Daly told reporters that some contracts in the league would not allow for this kind of blocking.
Cassidy's was not one of them.
That is the deputy commissioner publicly confirming that coaching contracts across the NHL are not standardized on this protection.
Some deals shield fired coaches from being held hostage by their former team. Cassidy's didn't, and every agent in the league just received a new negotiating priority.
The NHL Coaches' Association has already called the situation unprecedented at the head coaching level.
Now they have Daly's own words as ammunition for future contract talks. If protective language becomes standard going forward, the Cassidy saga will be remembered as the moment that forced the change.
Vegas holds the cards for now
Daly did hedge slightly, saying the league has spoken to all parties and will revisit the situation after the playoffs.
Cassidy is reportedly aware of the NHL's position and accepting of it, even if unhappy.
The implication is clear - once Vegas is done chasing its second Stanley Cup, the gates open.
But by then, the coaching carousel may have already turned past him.
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