Ex-Bruins coach opens up on surprise firing by Golden Knights

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Ex-Bruins coach opens up on surprise firing by Golden Knights

Lauren Campbell · MassLive

Thu, Apr 30, 2026 ·

2 min read

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The firing of Bruce Cassidy was a bit surprising given the fact the Golden Knights had eight games left in the season.

Having won a Stanley Cup in 2023 in Cassidy's first year and Vegas on its way to another playoff run, the former coach would have liked another run at it.

"I would've liked to see it through," Cassidy said on TNT on Tuesday night . "We'd won once before, so we knew what it looked like to win. We were a first or second-place team most of the year — I felt we would've got in (to playoffs). I don't know where we would've finished at the end, that's speculation, but yes, I would've loved to have had the opportunity. But didn't work out that way, so you start thinking about your next challenge."

Cassidy was asked whether he was surprised by Vegas' decision to move on from the coach with so few games left in the regular season.

"You grind for 74 games and you wanna be there at the end. That's the payoff, right? Playing for the Cup, getting your name on the Cup again," Cassidy said . "But Vegas, they had their standard, they felt they weren't there, so they made a change.

"Great guys in that locker room, great players," he continued . "So I'm excited for the guys but disappointed I didn't get a chance to finish the job with them."

Cassidy had one year left on his contract with Vegas.

The ex- Bruins coach joined the Golden Knights in 2022 and led them to the Stanley Cup win in his first year as coach after he was fired by the Bruins .

John Tortorella took over for the fired Cassidy. The Golden Knights punched their ticket to the playoffs and have a 3-2 first-round series lead over the Utah Mammoth after Wednesday's double overtime win.

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