Ex-Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy has found his next team
Ex-Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy was without a job for just over a week.
Jun 12, 2019; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy addresses the media after the Bruins lost to the St. Louis Blues in game seven of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
Ex-Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy didn't even make it a full two weeks on the job market, as the Vegas Golden Knights have hired Cassidy to be their next head coach.
Word of Cassidy's hiring was first reported by NHL insider Kevin Weekes, and comes just seven days and 22 hours after the Bruins announced his firing from the organization in a 7 p.m. news release.
Behind the Boston bench for five-plus seasons, Cassidy will arrive in Vegas with a 245-108-46 behind the bench since taking over in Feb. 2017, with only the Capitals and Lightning posting stronger records over that span.
In Vegas, Cassidy will be tasked with leading the Golden Knights back to the playoffs after a shocking collapse out of postseason contention in the final days and weeks of the 2021-22 NHL season. Prior to their did-not-qualify this past season, the Golden Knights had qualified for the postseason all four times in their first four seasons, and advanced to at least the third round in three of those four years, including a run to the 2018 Stanley Cup Final.
This is about as 'win-now' as it gets for Cassidy, too, with the Golden Knights led by a superstar forward grouping with Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone on the wings and Jack Eichel at center, along with Alex Pietrangelo on defense and Robin Lehner in goal. Vegas also has a strong supporting cast that includes players such as William Karlsson, Jonathan Marchessault, Alec Martinez, Shea Theodore, and Brayden McNabb all signed for the 2022-23 season.
Cassidy, who won the Jack Adams Award in 2020 as the NHL's top coach, will be the third head coach in Knights history.
The Bruins, meanwhile, remain on the hunt for a new coach.
Bruce Cassidy coached five full seasons for the Boston Bruins, and parts of a sixth, from 2017-22. Under Cassidy's leadership, the Bruins posted a W-L-OTL record of 399-245-108, totaling 536 points - a .672 point percentage.
After the 2021-22 regular season, Cassidy became just the third head coach in NHL history to post six straight seasons of at least a .650 point percentage, joining elite company in Hockey Hall of Famers Scotty Bowman and Glen Sather. He also won the NHL's Jack Adams Award as the league's outstanding coach in the 2019-20 season, when the Bruins won the Presidents' Trophy with the best record in hockey. They also made it to the 2019 Stanley Cup Final against the St. Louis Blues, but ultimately lost in seven games.
The Bruins relieved Cassidy of his duties on June 6, after the Bruins bowed out of the playoffs in the first round in seven games against the Carolina Hurricanes. Keep scrolling for more photos of Cassidy's accomplished Bruins tenure.
NEXT... ‘The Bruin is basically tattooed to me’: Inside Bruce Cassidy’s final meeting with the media
NHL: Buffalo Sabres at Boston Bruins
Brian Fluharty/USA TODAY SportsDec 29, 2019; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy speaks with the media after a game against the Buffalo Sabres at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Boston Bruins at Carolina Hurricanes
May 10, 2022; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy reacts against the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period in game five of the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
NHL: Minnesota Wild at Boston Bruins
Nov 23, 2019; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy reacts to a non-call by an official during the third period against the Minnesota Wild at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
2019 NHL Stanley Cup Final - Media Day
Bruce Bennett/Getty ImagesBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 26: (L-R) Head coach Bruce Cassidy and General Manager Don Sweeney of the Boston Bruins speak during Media Day ahead of the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden on May 26, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
2019 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic - Boston Bruins v Chicago Blackhawks
Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesSOUTH BEND, INDIANA - JANUARY 01: Head coach Bruce Cassidy of the Boston Bruins leaves the rink after beating the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 in the 2019 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Notre Dame Stadium on January 01, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Boston Bruins Practice Session
Bruce Bennett/Getty ImagesRALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 14: Head coach Bruce Cassidy of the Boston Bruins addresses the media following the morning skate prior to Game Three of the Eastern Conference Final during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the PNC Bank Arena on May 14, 2019 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NHL: Boston Bruins at Florida Panthers
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY SportsOct 27, 2021; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy gestures from the bench during the third period against the Florida Panthers at FLA Live Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Stanley Cup Playoffs-Tampa Bay Lightning at Boston Bruins
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY SportsBoston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy yells at a referee during the third period of their 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in game three of the second round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden. (Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports)
2019 NHL Stanley Cup Final - Practice Session
Bruce Bennett/Getty ImagesST LOUIS, MISSOURI - MAY 31: Head coach Bruce Cassidy of the Boston Bruins talk to his team during a practice session ahead of Game Three of the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Enterprise Center on May 31, 2019 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
2019 NHL Stanley Cup Final - Game One
Adam Glanzman/Getty ImagesBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MAY 27: Head coach Bruce Cassidy of the Boston Bruins speaks to the media following his teams 4-2 win over the St. Louis Blues in Game One of the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden on May 27, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
NHL: Stanley Cup Final-Boston Bruins at St. Louis Blues
Billy Hurst-USA TODAY SportsJun 3, 2019; St. Louis, MO, USA; Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy directs his team during the third period against the St. Louis Blues in game four of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hurst-USA TODAY Sports
NHL: Boston Bruins at Carolina Hurricanes
James Guillory/USA TODAY SportsDec 23, 2018; Raleigh, NC, USA; Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy reacts from behind the players bench against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Boston Bruins 5-3. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
NHL: Boston Bruins at Pittsburgh Penguins
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY SportsMar 16, 2021; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Boston Bruins had coach Bruce Cassidy (rear) talks to center Patrice Bergeron (37) and right wing David Pastrnak (88) during a time-out in the third period against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. Boston won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
NHL: Boston Bruins at Arizona Coyotes
Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY SportsOct 5, 2019; Glendale, AZ, USA; Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy looks on during the third period against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
NHL: Boston Bruins at Florida Panthers
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY SportsOct 27, 2021; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy watches from the bench behind his players during the third period against the Florida Panthers at FLA Live Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
