Why did Golden Knights fire Bruce Cassidy? Revisiting cutthroat decision to change coaches right before playoffs

Coaching in the NHL is a volatile business. Even Stanley Cup-winning coaches are rarely safe, and midseason coaching changes are perhaps more common in hockey than in any other major sport.

The good news for coaches is that the most successful ones can typically land on their feet pretty easily. When the Golden Knights fired coach Bruce Cassidy late in the regular season, they were able to bring in another Stanley Cup-winning coach to fill his shoes in veteran John Tortorella.

Tortorella's time in Las Vegas undoubtedly has an expiration date on it as well, but the surprising decision to fire Cassidy is looking like a wise one as the Golden Knights play for the Stanley Cup.

Here's a look at why the Golden Knights fired Cassidy before the playoffs.

MORE: Full 2026 Stanley Cup Final schedule

Why did Golden Knights fire Bruce Cassidy?

The Golden Knights fired Cassidy while struggling to stay in playoff position in late March. Vegas was just 5-12 over its prior 17 games and was third in a weak Pacific Division with a chance of missing the playoffs altogether at the time of the change.

"With the stretch run of the 2025-26 regular season upon us, we believe that a change is necessary for us to return to the level of play that is expected of our club," Golden Knights General Manager Kelly McCrimmon said in a statement announcing the move.

While the decision to fire a Stanley Cup-winning coach was controversial, the Golden Knights caught fire down the stretch, won their division and now are playing for what would be their second Stanley Cup in four years after sweeping the President's Trophy-winning Avalanche.

Other teams have proven midseason coaching changes can lead to terrific results. Five Stanley Cup champions since 2000 won with a different head coach than the one they started the season with: the 1999-00 Devils, 2008-09 Penguins, 2011-12 Kings, 2015-16 Penguins and 2018-19 Blues. The Golden Knights have a chance to join that group.

Vegas has had a different head coach for each of its three Stanley Cup Final appearances, so this kind of turnover is nothing new for the organization.

MORE: Why John Tortorella cost Golden Knights a second-round pick

Bruce Cassidy record with Golden Knights

The Golden Knights pounced on the opportunity to hire Cassidy after his surprise firing by the Bruins in 2022, and they were rewarded with a Stanley Cup Final just a year later.

After one playoff series win between the next two seasons and their season teetering in 2026, the Golden Knights opted for a well-timed change in March.

MORE: Bruce Cassidy calls out Golden Knights' 'upsetting' decision to block interviews

John Tortorella record with Golden Knights

• Regular season: 7-0-1
• Playoffs: 12-4

While Vegas' success under Tortorella could be attributed to Carter Hart's surge or just a talented team finally hitting its stride, the numbers are tough to argue. The Golden Knights didn't have a regulation loss in eight regular-season games under Tortorella, and they are a combined 19-4-1 entering the Stanley Cup Final when including the playoffs.

If the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup Final, Tortorella will become a two-time champion; he previously won with the Lightning all the way back in 2004.