Bruce Cassidy open to coaching Maple Leafs after Golden Knights firing

Bruce Cassidy won the Stanley Cup as the coach of the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023. The Golden Knights are playing for the Cup again, but this time without Cassidy, as he was fired by the club. Now, Cassidy is looking for a new job, and the Toronto Maple Leafs have an opening.

Now, it is being reported that Cassidy would be open to coaching the Maple Leafs, according to Jonas Siegel of The Athletic.

“The 61-year-old told The Athletic this week that he would ‘have interest in any opening’ and was open to speaking to the Leafs, if allowed, to see if the fit was right on both sides,” Siegel wrote. “Cassidy has indicated that he simply wants to ‘go back to work’ after being fired by the Golden Knights in March with eight games left in the regular season.”

Beyond just Cassidy wanting to coach the Maple Leafs and the new Maple Leafs front office wanting to hire him, there is another roadblock. Cassidy is still under contract with the Golden Knights and has one year left on his deal. The Golden Knights have already blocked Cassidy from an interview with the Edmonton Oilers, and could block a move here as well.

Cassidy is likely to be a top candidate for the Maple Leafs if he is able to interview with the club. His first stint as a head coach was short-lived, coaching the Washington Capitals in 2002-03, leading them to the playoffs. He was then first after an 8-18-1-1 start the next year. Cassidy would resurface in 2016-17, taking over the final 27 games with the Boston Bruins. He would remain the coach there through the 2021-22 season, making it to the playoffs each year, and the Stanley Cup Finals in 2019. He won a Cup with the Golden Knights before leading them to the playoffs the next two seasons. Ultimately, he was fired midseason this year.

Now, Cassidy hopes to coach again, and the Maple Leafs may be his next stop.

The post Bruce Cassidy open to coaching Maple Leafs after Golden Knights firing appeared first on ClutchPoints.