When you've lost eight of your last nine games, you're looking for anyone to volunteer and help. That's where the Vegas Golden Knights stand after losing in overtime to the Chicago Blackhawks, 3-2. Sunday's loss might've surprisingly propelled them to the top of the Pacific Division by way of—you guessed it—the loser point. But another name was brought up in the discussion: Bruce Cassidy.
Fans have noticed that the Golden Knights have lost their confidence when they've lost a lead. There's been talk about Vegas "finding ways to lose," whether it's a late penalty or a third-period goal. They've stood in the face of potential points like a scolded dog in net, letting pucks fly past them.
That's not a good look for Cassidy, who's dealt with a similar situation before. The Golden Knights head coach has had Boston Bruins players throw him under the bus, bringing up his grating style and personality to the front office. The result? He gets canned.
Could that happen to Cassidy, despite winning a Stanley Cup almost three years ago? Well, there's some reason to believe that this could happen. But reality also says that the head coach's seat is much colder than people expect. After all, we're only halfway through the season. What reason is there for overreacting to silly things like an underachieving team?
Why Bruce Cassidy carries the blame for the Vegas Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights haven't had many games where they've played a complete 60 minutes. In the first half of their horrid stretch, they had trouble getting out of early holes. Some perfect examples include December 20 against the Calgary Flames and the next day against the Edmonton Oilers.
However, there's the other extreme that's plagued the Golden Knights: holding onto leads. Vegas has scored first in five of its past six games, yet it's only mustered four points from that stretch. Part of it has been complacency, where the Golden Knights haven't hit the gas pedal hard enough.
It falls on Cassidy to get his players going and prevent them from playing scared. Build their confidence and make sure that the toxic "country club" mentality doesn't seep through. Otherwise, there will be a similar situation to what he had in Boston. This time, there will be no escaping his predicament and fans will hold him to the flames.
Why Bruce Cassidy shouldn't be on the hot seat after the loss to the Chicago Blackhawks
First, the Golden Knights are in first place in the Pacific Division. That should be enough to ease the tension, despite a bizarre start. But that raises another point: the Pacific Division is an absolute gong-show. How bad is it in the Pacific Division?
Every team enters Monday with a negative goal differential. It's been mentioned that the division itself is keeping the Golden Knights afloat (aside from the 50 billion overtime/shootout losses that Vegas has). Combine that with a slew of injuries, plus an aggressive trade deadline, and it feels like the Golden Knights are ripe for an explosion.
If it's not as explosive as people think? Well, the Pacific Division's mediocrity should cushion the blow for Butch. Plus, you have the historically pleasant months of March (69-34-8) and April (33-16-9). If history is any indication, things should pick up for Vegas, especially with a healthier lineup.
The verdict on Cassidy
Personally, this conversation should wait until the circumstances become clearer. It's not Cassidy's fault that key players are out for the Golden Knights right now. When you're missing both top pair defensemen, that's a recipe for disaster.
It's part of why the Golden Knights haven't held onto their leads and failed to capitalize on their fast starts. When you're not blocking shots and taking away good looks, your goaltenders are put in compromised positions. It explains why Carter Hart has struggled and why Vegas quickly loses its momentum.
Fans should wait until the circumstances shake out. Yes, Cassidy isn't doing much with what he has right now. But it's tough to do that when you're not at full strength and forced to rely on Henderson Silver Knights. Therefore, let's hold off on this conversation unless things get absolutely dire.