Don't you hate your boss? Sometimes, we have that one supervisor who's insufferable. They'll yell at you, belittle or berate you, and make you feel insignificant. Sometimes, you wish you could get a mallet and bonk them on the head.
Well, it appears Chandler Stephenson has such feelings towards a certain head coach for the Vegas Golden Knights. He was asked in the past week about his experience during his first season with his new team, the Seattle Kraken. Here's what he said:
"It's nice to have a coach that is a human being first, not a coach first. I think that's something that he is really good at."Chandler Stephenson on Dan Bylsma
Make of this quote what you will. It's a compliment to the Stanley Cup-winning coach and his coaching style. He coached legendary players like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, after all. It's a testament to his relaxed style and ability to understand his players.
However, Golden Knights fans will look at it from a different angle. The center wasn't too fond of Bruce Cassidy and his tough-as-nails style. Granted, it also won Stephenson his second Stanley Cup during his career. But this isn't the first time this has happened.
The quote shouldn't shock Vegas Golden Knights fans about Bruce Cassidy
Boston Bruins fans will tell the story about how Cassidy wasn't afraid to call out guys publicly and privately. He was also harsher towards younger players, according to certain Bruins players. It's part of why he was fired after his first-round exit in 2021-22.
There are even instances where the head coach had a similar temperament during his Vegas Golden Knights tenure. When the team lost both home games on a mini-homestand to start April, Cassidy said it wasn't a "one-off."
But here's the thing. After that quote, the Golden Knights went 5-0-2 in their final seven games. They clinched the Pacific Division and earned the second-most points in the Western Conference. Mind you, this was with key players being rested.
We're talking about Adin Hill, Jack Eichel, and Mark Stone getting time off. There's a certain expectation carried throughout the Vegas locker room. Do your job and ask questions later. That's part of why they secured 110 points in 2024-25. Along the way came 50 wins and a Pacific Division title.
You can't say the same about Chandler Stephenson on the Seattle Kraken
Fans should be happy for Chandler Stephenson in his current situation. He has a seven-year, $43.5 million deal with the Seattle Kraken and was rewarded after a successful tenure with the Golden Knights. He deserves all the happiness in the world.
Who knows? Maybe Dan Bylsma recreates that Pittsburgh Penguins magic in Seattle. But as it stands, the Kraken are hitting the links in Bellevue while the Golden Knights are preparing for their first-round matchup with the Minnesota Wild.
Fans can criticize Bruce Cassidy for his hard-nosed style all they want. But there's one constant in his career: Winning. Two Stanley Cup Final appearances and a Stanley Cup say a lot about a head coach who wants his players to win. As it stands, you're not getting that in Seattle.
He knows what this roster is capable of. He knows they can win another Stanley Cup. That's why he's harder on his players than other coaches. There's an expectation not found in Seattle, which is winning the Stanley Cup. Will Stephenson realize that during his Emerald City stay? Stay tuned.