Everybody loves a good reunion. It rekindles memories of old when you were best pals with a certain someone. After all, who doesn't love nostalgia?
However, that can't be said for Bruce Cassidy. The Golden Knights' head coach had a contentious relationship with numerous Bruins players, including Jake DeBrusk. The scandal left a bad mark on the Stanley Cup winner, labeling him as a toxic figure.
That certainly doesn't help matters in making a post like this. Who wants to play for a guy who'll scream at you until you bawl and cry? Nobody likes that, you know?
But there are three names with ties to Vegas's bench boss. They might've played with him since he joined the team in 2016. They might've played for one year with him. However, they have connections with him.
Now, you can make your own determinations on whether these players would work with the Golden Knights. But one thing's certain. It would be like old times with the head coach and these three players. Just make sure he doesn't turn red like a stop sign before playing the Dropkick Murphys.
1.) Trent Frederic
Before he joined the Edmonton Oilers on their current Stanley Cup run, Frederic was a part of Bruce Cassidy's Bruins squad. He was quiet during Cassidy's tenure, scoring 12 goals and 11 assists from 2018 to 2022.
Of course, he wasn't averaging more than 12 minutes per game in those seasons. However, he did have a penchant for hitting people. In 2021-22, he had 119 hits in the head coach's final season with Boston.
One thing that stood out was Frederic being in the head coach's doghouse. That included making him a healthy scratch for a 2022 playoff game against the Carolina Hurricanes. Cue up George Clinton because that's one "Atomic Dog."
2.) Brad Marchand
The obvious name. What more is there to say about the legendary Boston Bruins star? He's terrific on shorthanded opportunities and always provides a scoring touch. That's how he won Game 2 for the Florida Panthers after all.
Marchand knows Cassidy well, having played for the head coach from 2016 to 2022. In fact, they have a close working relationship with each other. It's not quite like "Step Brothers." But it's close.
Rumor has it that the 37-year-old wants a three-year deal. That might be a stretch for Kelly McCrimmon, considering the Jonathan Marchessault fiasco that happened last summer. However, he's always a good scoring option for any NHL team looking to go to the next level.
3.) Tomas Nosek
That's right, dear reader. Nosek had one season with Cassidy with the Bruins. It's hard to believe that the 32-year-old went from being an Original Misfit to playing for the Golden Knights' head coach in Boston. But his one campaign with the Stanley Cup winner in 2021-22 saw him score 14 assists.
This one is more of a depth signing than anything. Whenever Nosek isn't mindlessly flipping pucks over the glass, he can serve as a solid fourth-line winger who wins faceoffs (54% career average). Just make sure he keeps the puck in play.
Bonus: Reilly Smith
I mean, he did play for Cassidy prior to being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins. In fact, Smith won a Stanley Cup. It does make sense to bring back one of his old buddies (even if he never played in Boston), right?