Meanwhile, Cassidy's previous team, the Boston Bruins, have been idle for over a month now, having squandered a 3-1 series lead against the Panthers in the opening round.
Undoubtedly, the situation doesn't bode well for the Bruins if their former coach, who was let go exactly a year ago on Tuesday, triumphs in his debut season with a new franchise and claims the coveted Cup.
Adam Jones from WEEI expresses his belief that this turn of events will be particularly tough for the Bruins players, as rumors suggest they had grown weary of Cassidy's coaching style, prompting General Manager Don Sweeney to seek a fresh "voice" for the team.
During Tuesday's episode of the Jones & Mego show, Jones poses an important question: Have we given enough thought to how players like Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, and Jake DeBrusk, among others, should feel if Bruce Cassidy wins the Cup? According to him, they would appear as significant losers, unable to thrive under Cassidy's leadership while he is on the verge of claiming a Stanley Cup.
Meghan Ottolini adds that they should indeed feel embarrassed, especially considering that as the weeks progressed, they were eliminated in the first round by the Panthers, who are now facing defeat at the hands of Cassidy's Golden Knights in the final.
On the other hand, Mego remains unconvinced that the Bruins would have fared any better in the playoffs this year had Cassidy remained in charge. She explains that so much had transpired during Cassidy's six-year tenure that it's difficult to imagine they would have made significantly more progress under his guidance, especially given the reported turmoil in the locker room last season.
It's important to acknowledge that Cassidy has always been an exceptional coach, and it's no surprise that he has made a significant impact with the Golden Knights. However, sometimes even exceptional coaches reach the end of their tenure in a particular role, and change becomes necessary. Cassidy himself replaced two other excellent coaches, Claude Julien in Boston and Pete DeBoer in Vegas. Currently, there are only three NHL coaches who have been with their respective teams for more than five years.
With all that being said, it's undeniable that Cassidy winning the Cup while the Bruins falter in the first round would be a bitter pill for many associated with the Bruins organization to swallow.
POLL | ||
Did you like Cassidy as a coach? | ||
Yes | 147 | 80.8 % |
No | 35 | 19.2 % |
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