After dumping Craig Berube as their head coach, the Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to go after Bruce Cassidy, according to Elliotte Friedman. This is a franchise that has suffered through countless years of heartbreak, whether it's blown leads or overtime losses. Could Cassidy be the solution to Toronto's problems?
The Toronto Maple Leafs will likely reach out to Bruce Cassidy for their head coach vacancy, per @FriedgeHNIC. pic.twitter.com/7TqPq0LpM8
— PuckEmpire (@puckempire) May 14, 2026
Believe it or not, there's a good reason behind that. The former Golden Knights head coach won a Stanley Cup in his first season of his Las Vegas residency. Overall, he had a record of 178-99-43 with Vegas, amassing 399 points. But his last season is the most noteworthy for a few reasons.
One, it points to a lost locker room that allegedly turned on him. Players tuned him out and didn't play up to the Golden Knights standard. That led to a record of 32-26-16 this season and 80 points. Even if it was a first-place finish, there were still more problems.
Second, it puts Cassidy back in his old conference. Maple Leafs fans constantly talk about how hard the Atlantic Division has been, which is true. But it's better to put him back in that old setting, where he can continually cut his teeth.
Why Vegas Golden Knights fans should be happy about Bruce Cassidy being linked to the Toronto Maple Leafs
Oh, sure. Everyone wishes ill things upon the Toronto Maple Leafs, despite their past woes. The fanbase can be some of the most insufferable people around, making silly claims about players like Mitch Marner. However, Golden Knights fans should hope that the Maple Leafs pick him up.
No, it doesn't have to do with Toronto finally winning a Stanley Cup. Honestly, not many Golden Knights fans are thinking too much about that. Instead, it has to do with that division rival.
Yes. THAT one.
The Edmonton Oilers have also expressed interest in bringing Cassidy on board. They fired Kris Knoblauch on Thursday and are looking to satisfy their gigastar, Connor McDavid. After all, you don't want McJesus going back home to the Maple Leafs.
Still, Cassidy and McDavid going to Toronto would be the dream situation for the Golden Knights competitively. Sure, you'll hear those pesky Maple Leafs fans rub it in Marner's face if he doesn't have a Stanley Cup during his Vegas residency and Toronto does. But you want to establish yourselves as the Pacific Division overlords, clenching onto your dominance.
Golden Knights fans must think big picture with the latest Bruce Cassidy news
Considering that teams like the Anaheim Ducks and the San Jose Sharks are on the rise, that will make life in the Pacific Division much harder for Vegas. Add in the fact that the Golden Knights have the second-oldest roster this season (average age of 30) and things get far more complicated.
So what better way to ease the pain than to ship Cassidy elsewhere? Heck, the Stanley Cup-winning head coach would be better in Toronto than in Los Angeles. The Golden Knights don't want to have anybody in the division grab hold of their former head coach.
Who knows? It might end in a shortened tenure in Toronto if he does go there. The Golden Knights fanbase would rather see their former head coach succeed in a place not named Edmonton or Los Angeles.
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