- Pagnotta says the Oilers will offer Bruce Cassidy around five years
- The total package could reach $30 million
- Read below for video of the report and where Vegas stands
The Oilers have a number in mind for Bruce Cassidy, and it’s a big one.
David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period talked about Edmonton’s coaching search on Thursday’s DFO Rundown. He says the Oilers are ready to hand Cassidy a five-year contract worth as much as $30 million in total.
“It’s clear as day that they want Bruce Cassidy,” Pagnotta said. “He’s their guy. He’s the guy they want. They’re willing to pay him a very handsome salary and a term contract, I believe around five years in order to do that.”
That $30 million total was Pagnotta’s estimate of what five years at that kind of salary adds up to:
Catch the video of the full coaching conversation from Thursday’s episode:
Pagnotta gets to Cassidy right off the top of the video, in the coaching carousel segment.
Five years of term would be a huge commitment from Stan Bowman, who has wanted Cassidy since before the team fired Kris Knoblauch.
Vegas is still the holdup. The Golden Knights fired Cassidy in March and won’t let him interview anywhere, a stance the league called “completely reasonable” earlier this week.
Most around the league expect Vegas to loosen up once its Cup Final run ends. Nothing forces them to, though. Cassidy never negotiated an out clause, so the Golden Knights can sit on his rights as long as they keep paying him.
Edmonton has backup plans if the wait drags on. The Oilers have reportedly talked with Craig Berube and Peter Laviolette, and Bowman already has his hands full with Darnell Nurse on the trade block.
If Vegas opens the door this summer, every signal points to Cassidy coaching the Oilers next season.
