The Golden Knights recently shocked the NHL by firing Jack Adams Award-winning coach Bruce Cassidy in favour of John Tortorella. The Stanley Cup-winning coach is now without a job. Could the Flames be Cassidy’s next rodeo?
About Cassidy’s History
Bruce Cassidy landed his first NHL head coaching job in 2002 for the Washington Capitals, after his success in the minors.
The Capitals went 8–18–1 with Cassidy at the helm to start the 2003–04 season, and Cassidy was fired after 28 games.
The Blackhawks hired Cassidy as an assistant coach in the 2005–06 season, but with a lack of success, He was relieved of his duties.
In 2016, Cassidy found his footing with the Providence Bruins, earning him a promotion to Boston as an assistant coach. He was named head coach in 2017.
Cassidy led his Bruins to the 2019 Stanley Cup Final and won the Jack Adams Award in 2020. Following a game seven loss to their rival Hurricanes in 2022, Cassidy was let go by the Bruins.
8 days after being fired, Cassidy was hired by the Golden Knights. In his first season as coach, he raised the Stanley Cup in 2023.
That takes us to now. Cassidy was fired by the Golden Knights on March 29, being replaced by John Tortorella.
Does Cassidy Make Sense For Calgary?
Cassidy is a proven success; he has the hardware to back it up. But is he the right choice for a rebuilding team?
The most tempting part of hiring Cassidy is his winning pedigree. He led both of his former clubs to a Stanley Cup Final appearance, and his work on the special teams was impressive.
Calgary’s current dump-and-chase system under both Darryl Sutter and now Ryan Huska has seen its fair share of criticism. Cassidy’s capitalization of rush chances and overall speed would be a much-needed breath of fresh air. Cassidy’s speed-based system could unlock players stuck in the mud like Sharangovich, Zary, and the continuously struggling Jonathan Huberdeau.
Does It Make Sense For Both Sides?
The premise of hiring Cassidy is mouth-watering for Flames fans. A successful, no BS coach with a winning track record is a dream for a club that hasn’t seen postseason hockey in four years.
But the burning question is this: Would Cassidy want to take on the challenge of coaching a young team in the early stages of a rebuild? Cassidy turns 61 next month, and it’s probably a safe bet to assume he wants another Stanley Cup.
That being said, the idea of coaching a young, hungry and hardworking club who will be opening a new arena next fall, in a city that will be hosting the 2028 World Cup of Hockey, and for a franchise who could be adding a McKenna, Stenberg or Verhoeff calibre prospect to their roster has to be an intriguing offer for the veteran bench boss.
Only time will tell, but Bruce Cassidy and the Calgary Flames could be a match made in heaven, should things play out that way.