Sometimes, you have that unlikable person that you want to bodyslam through a table. Maybe it's Ryan from accounting, who's adding up the gray hairs at the age of 32 like Jack Eichel adds points. Perhaps it's the unlikable boss who wants you to stay extra hours instead of going on that date with the girl you find adorable.
It seems Bruce Cassidy and Pete DeBoer have a particular beef with Logan Thompson. In fact, it reached the point where the Washington Capitals netminder was left off Team Canada's roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off.
According to Steve Valiquette, Bruce Cassidy and Pete DeBoer didn’t want Logan Thompson on Team Canada because of their experience with him in Vegas.
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) February 5, 2025
“That was never going to happen.” pic.twitter.com/lelxFmQ29E
This comes in light of a player's poll conducted by The Athletic, which ranks the coaches players would least want to play for. Lo and behold, Cassidy's name appeared second on the list as an unlikable figure, only behind John Tortorella of the Philadelphia Flyers. Mind you, this was a man who's one of the most influential figures in the NHL.
After all, this isn't the first time Cassidy and DeBoer have had trouble with players. Cassidy has openly called out his goaltenders during the team's current slump. There's also the Boston Bruins incident, where a group of players went to management in June 2022 and forced Cassidy out of Boston. I bet he used one of these lines, eh?
As for DeBoer? Well, Robin Lehner called him out on X for verbally abusing him during his Golden Knights tenure. The netminder said the head coach's tirades would leave him unable to attend practice from the built-up anxiety. It looks like the two head coaches need to hire a PR rep specialist.
How to be a likable guy
Having a no-nonsense approach did win Bruce Cassidy a Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights. He's also responsible for the fast starts during his three years with the team. Pete DeBoer's approach also netted him two semifinal appearances before he got fired in 2021-22. On the surface, it appears to work wonders for the Golden Knights.
But why is Logan Thompson not representing Team Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off? Could he be a difficult personality to deal with? Did he draw the ire of Bruce Cassidy, which led to Adin Hill getting the nod in net for 2024-25?
After all, who would pass up a goaltender with the fourth-best GAA (2.18) and third-best save percentage (.923) in the NHL? It seems logical until you look at Cassidy's history of being, well, the unlikable guy in the room. It's like picking Allen Iverson over Michael Jordan because Jordan spat on your Detroit Pistons teammate.
Maybe something needs to change for Bruce Cassidy?
Maybe Cassidy should have a therapy session with Logan Thompson and hash his issues out. The head coach is known for his hard-headed coaching style. Fans are already grilling him about his coaching style, where he's shown to be less likable than even Mike Babcock. Maybe Logan Thompson needs to be more likable. Who knows?
Or perhaps the 4 Nations Face-Off doesn't matter as much as we'd like to think. It's a simple novelty tournament being heavily promoted by the NHL. It's not like it's the 2026 Olympics in Milan, where NHL fans can see their favorite players represent their countries. There's a bigger stake at play there, where a gold medal and glory are on the line. Just ask the 1980 U.S. Men's Ice Hockey team.
After all, it's all about the Stanley Cup. Sure, Cassidy can learn how to be a better communicator. You can't say the same about Pete DeBoer since he was fired a few years ago. However, it could help his team get red-hot after the tournament ends, propelling them to the Pacific Division. Who knows? A little soft skills could build the confidence needed to win another Stanley Cup.