Maple Leafs Should Hire Fired Golden Knights Coach Bruce Cassidy

Cassidy's experience and success with the Bruins and Golden Knights make him an ideal fit to replace Craig Berube in Toronto.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 11:39pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist-style painting depicting a hockey game, with the players and action broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a vibrant color palette, conveying the strategic complexity and intensity of the sport.Cassidy's proven ability to build winning teams could provide the Maple Leafs the strategic edge they need to finally break through.Boston Today

The Toronto Maple Leafs should immediately hire recently fired Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy to replace Craig Berube. Cassidy has a proven track record of success, including a Stanley Cup championship with the Boston Bruins, and his coaching style and experience would be a good fit for the Leafs' roster of star players.

Why it matters

The Maple Leafs are in need of a new direction after failing to build on last season's playoff success. Hiring Cassidy would bring in a coach with a winning pedigree and the ability to get the most out of Toronto's talented roster.

The details

Cassidy led the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2019 and had them as one of the NHL's top teams during his tenure. With the Golden Knights this season, his team was among the league leaders in shot blocking and goals against, despite poor goaltending. His coaching style emphasizes structure, discipline, and a blend of physical play and skilled offense - attributes that would suit the Maple Leafs well.

  • The Golden Knights fired Cassidy on March 29, 2026.
  • The Maple Leafs' regular season is winding down, with just a handful of games remaining.

The players

Bruce Cassidy

A veteran NHL coach who has had success with the Boston Bruins and Vegas Golden Knights, winning a Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2019.

Craig Berube

The current head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who has struggled to get the team over the hump despite some playoff success.

Brad Treliving

The general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who is looking to make changes to the team's coaching staff.

Kelly McCrimmon

The general manager of the Vegas Golden Knights, who recently fired Bruce Cassidy as the team's head coach.

Auston Matthews

The star center for the Toronto Maple Leafs, one of the team's key offensive talents.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Cassidy brings Cup-winning experience. He brings structure and discipline. And he brings knowledge of not one, but two successful teams in the Golden Knights and Boston Bruins.”

— Adam Proteau, USA TODAY Writer

“Under Cassidy for parts of six seasons, the Bruins were one of the most frequent hitters in the NHL, had some of the best special teams, were stingy on defense and were above-average scorers. They had a blend of feisty play and star talents, with Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak.”

— Adam Proteau, USA TODAY Writer

What’s next

The Maple Leafs must act quickly to hire Cassidy before another team snatches him up. Bringing him in now would allow him to get familiar with the roster and have a plan in place for the offseason.

The takeaway

Hiring Bruce Cassidy as the new head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs would provide the team with an experienced, successful coach who can get the most out of their talented roster and help them take the next step towards winning a Stanley Cup.