Bruce Cassidy says he has not ruled out coaching in Canada again, and says winning a Stanley Cup in a Canadian city would be “kind of cool” after the Vegas Golden Knights let him go last month. Speaking on the Leafs Morning Take podcast, Cassidy said he would have to weigh the market, the team’s chance to contend, and what the move would mean for his family before making any decision.
“Usually, the first thing you think of is the market, does the team have a chance, how does it impact your family, then you worry about the city later. Is ownership solid, things like that?” Cassidy said. “It would be kind of cool to do it. It would be cool to win a Stanley Cup in a Canadian city right now because it’s been a while. That would be something else.”
That is a notable shift in tone from the coach who was hired by Vegas a few weeks after the Boston Bruins fired him in June 2022. Cassidy then helped the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup over the Florida Panthers in 2023, after Boston had gone on to set an NHL record for wins and points in the 2022-23 regular season.
His comments also reopen a question that would matter to any Canadian club weighing its next move this summer. Cassidy said he represented Canada at the Olympics and Four Nations and called it a great honour, but added that he has not done a deep dive into coaching in Canada again. Even so, there are likely to be multiple options if he decides to pursue one.
The tension for any team is simple: Cassidy has already shown he can win quickly, but his next stop will depend on more than his résumé. The market, the fit, the family equation and the stability of ownership all sit in the frame now, and that will decide whether a Canadian return stays a thought or becomes the next job.
