By Alan Snel, LVSportsBiz.com Publisher/Writer
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Former Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy was fired because the team lacked spirit and energy and was in a freefall from first place to second place to now third place in the division, struggling to hang on to qualify for the playoffs, General Manager Kelly McCrimmon said Monday morning.
In his first public comments since firing Cassidy, McCrimmon said, “We waited as long as we could” before the former VGK coach was fired Sunday. Only the night before, the Knights lost, 5-4, to the Washington Capitals in a shootout Saturday.
“The energy level just wasn’t there,” McCrimmon said of the team that has qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs seven of its eight seasons.
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Replacing the 60-year-old Cassidy is former longtime NHL coach John Tortorella, who met players Monday and will be behind the bench at tonight’s Vegas vs Vancouver Canucks game at T-Mobile Arena.
Tortorella, 67, is a much more emotionally demonstrative personality than Cassidy and was called a good communicator by McCrimmon. ”
“He will give this team a spark,” McCrimmon said of Tortorella at his presser at VGK training headquarters in Summerlin.
In response to LVSportsBiz.com questions , McCrimmon said he collaborated with Hockey Operations boss George McPhee on firing Cassidy and got the signoff from VGK owner Bill Foley.
McCrimmon also acknowledged that the VGK players have underperformed and that they may have not been responding to Cassidy’s guidance.
The Golden Knights have 80 points in 74 games with eight games left on the schedule.
PSA