Former Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy abruptly fired by Vegas

Former Bruins bench boss Bruce Cassidy is instantly a free agent — lower than a month earlier than the beginning of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Cassidy was abruptly fired by the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday, with the group shifting on from the coach who helped lead Vegas to its first Stanley Cup within the 2022-23 season. Longtime NHL coach John Tortorella will change Cassidy.

The Golden Knights — who’ve seemingly been within the midst of a win-now window since their first yr within the league — are at present within the playoff image with a 36-26-16 report (80 factors), good for third within the Pacific Division. 

However, Vegas has labored as of late, with Saturday’s shootout loss to the Washington Capitals standing because the Knights’ sixth defeat of their final seven video games. 

“We thank Bruce Cassidy for his dedication to our hockey membership and group over the previous 4 seasons,” Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon mentioned in a press release launched by the group. “Beneath Bruce’s management, we reached our final purpose in 2023 by bringing a Stanley Cup to Vegas. Bruce will without end be remembered with the utmost regard by our group for what was achieved right here. 

“With the stretch run of the 2025-26 common season upon us, we consider {that a} change is critical for us to return to the extent of play that’s anticipated of our membership. With John Tortorella, we herald a Stanley Cup Champion in addition to one of the vital skilled and revered coaches within the NHL. His steerage shall be an important asset to our group on the pivotal level within the season we at present face. We sit up for welcoming John to Vegas.”

Cassidy’s profession as an NHL head coach has typically been rife with success — and abrupt exits.

Throughout Cassidy’s six seasons as head coach of the Bruins, Boston went 245-108-46, made the playoffs all six seasons, and superior all the best way to Recreation 7 of the Stanley Cup Remaining in 2019. 

The Bruins fired Cassidy at the end of the 2021-22 season after Boston fell to the Carolina Hurricanes within the first spherical of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

Cassidy was hired by the Golden Knights a little bit over every week after he and the Bruins parted methods. He lead Vegas to a Stanley Cup title in his first yr on the helm. 

In his 4 seasons with the Golden Knights, Cassidy sported a 178-99-43 report.

Expectations had been excessive for Vegas getting into the 2025-26 season, particularly after the group added former Maple Leafs star Mitch Marner to its lineup over the offseason.

However, Vegas’ struggles this yr have been rooted of their brutal goalie depth — with netminders like Akira Schmid (.893 save proportion), Adin Hill (.866 save proportion), and Carter Hart (.871 save proportion) all laboring this season.

 

Conor Ryan is a employees author protecting the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Purple Sox for Boston.com, a task he has held since 2023.