Bruce Cassidy is speaking out for the first time since his abrupt March firing from the Vegas Golden Knights. The coach led the team to a 2023 title but was dismissed with just eight games left in the 2026 season.

In March 2026, the Vegas Golden Knights parted ways with their bench boss, Bruce Cassidy, when only 8 games were left in the season.

That time, the team’s performance was not up to the mark. They had a 4-9-2 record in March. After coaching most of the season, Cassidy felt disappointed being fired before the playoffs, missing the chance to compete for the Stanley Cup.

"You grind for 74 games, and you wanna be there at the end. That's the payoff, right? Playing for the Cup, getting your name on the Cup again," Cassidy said.

According to Sportsnet, Cassidy explained that Vegas management believed the team wasn’t meeting expectations, so they decided to make a change.

"But Vegas, they had their standard; they felt they weren't there, so they made a change," he said.

The former coach praised players, but was disappointed as he couldn’t finish the season with the team.

"Great guys in that locker room, great players, so I'm excited for the guys but disappointed I didn't get a chance to finish the job with them," he said.

For most of the season, the Knights were placed at No. 1 or 2 in the standings, but then slipped to No. 3. Later, Bruce Cassidy was replaced by John Tortorella. 

After the coaching change, the Vegas Golden Knights played strongly, winning seven of their last eight games and finishing first in the Pacific Division.

Bruce Cassidy wanted to win another title with the Knights

Bruce Cassidy won the Stanley Cup title in 2023 with the Vegas Golden Knights. He wanted to win another one with the same franchise, but did not get the chance. 

"I would've liked to see it through. We'd won once before, so we knew what it looked like to win," Cassidy said.

Bruce Cassidy said his team stayed near the top all season. He believed they’d reach the playoffs, and wished he had the chance to finish.

"We were a first or second-place team most of the year. I felt we would've got in (to the playoffs). I don't know where we would've finished at the end, that's speculation, but yes, I would've loved to have had the opportunity.”

After things did not go his way, he has now shifted focus toward finding his next coaching opportunity. “Didn't work out that way, so you start thinking about your next challenge."

Cassidy’s reflections highlight a common reality in professional sports—success and stability can change quickly. As far as the Knights are concerned, they are currently leading the series 3-2 in the first-round playoffs against the Utah Mammoth.

They won Game 5 by 5-4 on April 29. Now, Game 6 will be played on May 01, 2026. What are your thoughts on this?

Read more at NHL Fan Central!

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi