Mohamed Bughrara
The Vegas Golden Knights are aiming a comeback with their third coach in six seasons, one year after failing to reach the playoffs for the first time in the franchise’s history.
Bruce Cassidy took over for Peter DeBoer after both were let go from the Bruins and Knights respectively. Cassidy joins the Bruins after leading them to six straight postseason berths with a 245-108-46 overall record.
DeBoer was fired on May 16 after the Vegas Golden Knights missed the playoffs for the first time in team history.
Vegas got veteran Phil Kessel to strengthen the attack, which suffered a setback when Max Pacioretty was moved to Carolina to free up salary contract space.
Jack Eichel, who became the first NHL player to have artificial disc replacement surgery on his neck in November, had a regular summer and arrived at training camp healthy for the first time since the 2019-20 season. Last season, Eichel tallied 14 goals and 11 assists in 34 games with Vegas.
If everything goes as planned, Kessel will tie Yandle’s record in Las Vegas on Oct. 24 against the Toronto Maple Leafs and then shatter it the next night in San Jose.
The Knights’ longest homestand is seven games from Jan. 5 to Jan. 21, followed by their longest away trip from Jan. 22 to Feb. 9. Cassidy will return to Boston on December 5, and the Knights will play the Bruins on December 11.
The Golden Knights are 2-2 in preseason action and will face the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday, October 8th at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.
