Bruce Cassidy may not be out of work for long as NHL coaching market heats up
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Daniel Lucente
Apr 2, 2026 (9:24)
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Photo credit: © Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
Chris Johnston says Bruce Cassidy won't stay out long, and new Vegas head coach John Tortorella only made that market hotter.
That matters because this is no soft rumor cycle now. Johnston's read, paired with the speed of Vegas making its change, pushes Cassidy from available name to active pressure point for teams that still need a bench jolt.
Re Bruce Cassidy: "I'm...pretty confident he's only out of work as long as he wants to be; it was about 6 days after the Bruins fired him before he was hired in Vegas; it could be less this time; I think he's gonna get some calls."
- Chris Johnston
- Chris Johnston
And that's why yesterday's north-market noise keeps gaining weight.
Toronto sit at 77 points through 75 games. That's not the profile of a club that can shrug off a proven coach hitting the board, especially one known for tightening team detail and demanding more from a top-heavy roster.
Edmonton make even more hockey sense. The Oilers have 85 points in 75 games, so this isn't about tearing down talent. It's about whether a harder defensive structure can squeeze more out of a roster built to win right now.
Vancouver are the pressure play. At 52 points in 74 games, they don't need another soft reset. They need someone who can set standards fast, clean up the bench rhythm, and drag the group into a different conversation by training camp.
Cassidy's value is simple: teams know this isn't a speculative hire.
Johnston's quote changed the temperature
Vegas moved off a coach who won the Stanley Cup in 2023, not a placeholder behind the bench. That alone tells you front offices won't treat Cassidy like a secondary option once their season reviews begin.
Johnston also pointed out Boston-to-Vegas took six days. That timeline is the real message. Clubs that wait for the market to settle may find out it never does.
Johnston didn't start the north push, but he just gave it more backbone.
Toronto, Edmonton, and Vancouver all have reasons to call. Cassidy only needs one of them to move from interest to action.
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| POLL | ||
AVRIL 2|147 ANSWERS Bruce Cassidy may not be out of work for long as NHL coaching market heats up Who should move first on Bruce Cassidy? | ||
| Edmonton | 31 | 21.1 % |
| Toronto | 46 | 31.3 % |
| Vancouver | 37 | 25.2 % |
| Other | 33 | 22.4 % |
| List of polls | ||