Fischler Report: Exclusive One-On-One With Vegas Golden Knights Coach Bruce Cassidy

Bruce Cassidy again proved his worth orchestrating a Stanley Cup symphony with the Nevada stick handlers. In an exclusive question and answer session he explains a lot of hockey, himself and the Champions.

Nicknamed "Butch" after the Wild West's Butch Cassidy, Cup-Winning coach Bruce Cassidy has had about as adventurous hockey life as the Butch of real life and cinema fame with the Sundance Kid. 

A native of Ottawa, Bruce was a 1983 first-round Blackhawks draft choice, but his career was limited by a series of knee surgeries. He segued into coaching and paid more than his dues behind assorted benches, starting with the ECHL's Jacksonville Lizard Kings in 1996.

Cassidy eventually made it to the NHL, starting with the Washington Capitals and Blackhawks. After another stint in the minors, he enjoyed success with the Boston Bruins, even winning the Jack Adams Trophy for his outstanding work in 2019-20. 

The adversity of being surprisingly fired by the Bruins turned into a sweet rebound when the Vegas Golden Knights immediately hired him as head coach for the 2022-23 season. Bruce again proved his worth orchestrating a Stanley Cup symphony with the Nevada stick handlers. 

In an exclusive question-and-answer session, he explains a lot about hockey, himself, and the Champions.

Stan Fischler: How would you describe your coaching style?

Bruce Cassidy: I’m honest with the players at all times. I treat people in the organization with respect and dignity and expect the same in return.

People talk a lot about accountability, and that is one of the keys to our success last year. But what does that mean exactly? To me, it’s a lot of different things, from how you play to how you treat your teammates and the people around you. And we try to hold people to the same standards, no matter what role they play on the team.

Stan Fischler: Who were your role models as players when you were a kid and as coaches before you went behind the bench, and why?

Bruce Cassidy: I was a Bruins fan as a kid, and like anyone who followed the Bruins, Bobby Orr was my guy. I admired everything about his game and how he spoke about his teammates. I believe he revolutionized the defense position. As far as coaches, I think I’ve learned a bit from everyone that I’ve come across, and I still learn to this day. My junior coach, Brian Kilrea, is certainly someone who influenced me heavily, as was Darryl Sutter, who I played for as a pro. Both those coaches taught me how to win.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAKXzIdu93w[/embed]

Stan Fischler: Referees can drive anyone nuts; what's the Cassidy style of handling the Zebras -- especially after a horrendous call; or missed call?

Bruce Cassidy: I’m usually not too demonstrative on the bench – I was moreso as a younger coach. Do I have my moments? Sure. But I think it’s more effective to present a calm demeanor and pick your opportunity to have a chat with the official-then move on either way.

Stan Fischler: Other than deprivation of ice time, how do you discipline a player who really pisses you off?

Bruce Cassidy: Ice time certainly is your best tool as a coach – that’s the simplest way to message. But it can’t be the only way you communicate. And that’s probably how I approach it, more coaching and direct messaging than ‘discipline.’ It’s my job to get the players playing the right way, the way we need to play to win. That might require a reduction in ice time to get a player’s attention, but you are going to have to coach and teach them if you expect to receive the desired result.

Stan Fischler: How did you manage the start to this season without a Cup hangover? Especially in Vegas?

Bruce Cassidy: There certainly were a lot of distractions as things got started, between the banner raising and the ring dinner, all after a short summer. But we talked as a group about wanting to establish ourselves as more than a one-time winner. We don’t talk a lot about repeating, but we want to show that we are a team built to contend consistently. We do talk about the process involved in achieving that. This franchise has been that way since the start, and that’s what we want to add to it. We have a veteran group, and I think they understand and appreciate what that would mean.

Stan Fischler: Over the 4-round run, which players surprised you positively, and how did they surprise you?

Bruce Cassidy: By the time you get to the playoffs, you know your group pretty well, and I think I had a good handle on what our guys were capable of. Certainly, Mark Stone impressed me with the way he came back from back surgery. After his first game, he was excellent. Jack Eichel took his game to another level. Really impressed with his 200-foot game night after night. Marchessault scored timely goals in the Edmonton series and right on through. Our D, one through six, was tremendous, and our offensive depth seemed to show whenever we needed it most. As a group, the way they were able to elevate each other and always have someone step up – I wouldn’t say it surprised me, but it impressed me. Hill coming in and giving us exceptional goaltending….A true TEAM effort!

Stan Fischler: Describe your scariest moment in the 2023 playoffs when you most feared your guys would blow it?

Bruce Cassidy: One of the things we can really appreciate now is never having faced elimination – so there was never a time I ever thought we would “blow it.” There was some concern after our first period of game 2 and being down 1-0 to Winnipeg, but we got to our game and built it from that point forward. 

Edmonton came home tied 2-2. You knew it was going to be a critical game in our quest because we knew just how dangerous that team could be. 

And against Dallas, we lost Games 4 and 5 to cut our lead to 3-2, so there was some concern. In the Western Conference Final, we talked very openly about the opportunity that lay ahead of us and the legacies we hoped to build as individuals and for the Golden Knights franchise. 

Our guys embraced that, and I felt good about how they would answer – and then Game 6 in Dallas we played the best game we had all year.

1. People ask: How do the Islanders manage to stay above .500 minus three regular defensemen? Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock, and Scott Mayfield? One answer; they've got the best offense since Lou Lamoriello took the reins.

2. They're deeper on both sides of the puck, while both Noah Dobson and Simon Holmstrom have been revelations this season.

3.. In a sense -- unless you're a Leafs fan -- it's a shame that Toronto's admirable offensive armada has its guns muzzled every year by porous puck-stopping.

4. It's gone from Jack Campbell now to faltering Ilya Samsonov to whoever is next in line with the Sieve brigade. Martin Jones is no more the answer than Jones Beach.

5. Kudos to rookie coach Spencer Carbery for keeping his Capitals competitive despite a significantly slumping Al Ovechkin.

6. It ain't "Mutiny On The Bounty," but the Good Ship Senators may need a few more life preservers for Interim coach Jacques (Exquisite Dresser) Martin.

7. The feeling among Garden State gurus is that the Devils' hangin' around the .500 mark hardly is cause for angst. But it's worth further review by the high command.

8. A cause for debate in Newark: Is it the goaltending or defense -- or both? They miss the experienced Damon Severson and Ryan Graves more than many thought they would.

9. Sidney Crosby is playing so, so, so well that he's reminding Pittsburghers of Mario Lemieux in the Flying Frenchman's productive senior seasons.

10. The only higher praise for that can be equated with a Hart Trophy for Sid.

11. If Geno Malkin really, truly awakens, then the Penguins have a decent shot at the playoffs.

12. If Capitals' owner Ted Leonsis cannot resist the temptation and eventually moves his club (don't do it, Ted) to Alexandria, Virginia, there'll be an arena village next door to the ice palace.

13. D.C. mayor Murel Bower's answer is a modernization of Capital One Arena.

14. Marty St.Louis and John Tortorella are neck and neck in my book for the Adams Award as best coach.

15. One of Marty's top assets: He's there for the players."

16. Now that the Oilers have pulled themselves up to the .500 mark, we'll know whether Kris Knoblauch really can coach.

17. Not long after Kevin Cheveldayoff made the deal for Nino Niedereitter, Chevvy told me he expected big things from the Swiss shooter in 2023-24. The Jets GM was right.

18. Chevvy doesn't brag; it was just a "feeling."

19. BINGO! Nino is playing some of his best hockey for Peg.

20. Goalies either are more fragile, or the intense speed -- shots, collisions, plus -- is wearing on their minds (Ilya Samsonov) -- and bodies, as was the case with Carey Price.

21. Many teams with a solid tandem -- such as the Islanders and Rangers -- would be very reluctant to move a Varly or a Quick.