Overview
- Edmonton received permission from the Toronto Maple Leafs and held preliminary talks with Craig Berube, with a formal interview expected after initial conversations with GM Stan Bowman.
- The Vegas Golden Knights continue to withhold permission for teams to interview Bruce Cassidy, who was fired in late March but remains under contract for another year.
- The NHL Coaches’ Association publicly criticized Vegas’s restrictions, saying coaches who are no longer working for their club should not be prevented from pursuing other jobs.
- Fans and pundits reacted strongly to Berube as a candidate, with many noting his recent struggles in Toronto despite his 2019 Stanley Cup with St. Louis and questioning his fit for Connor McDavid’s remaining contract window.
- Under NHL rules teams must grant interview permission for coaches under contract, and Vegas’s hold could keep Cassidy sidelined this season and shape rival hiring decisions and offseason roster moves.