Stan Bowman is throwing rocks up to hit Bruce Cassidy’s bedroom window, but Bruce just shakes his head, grounded, unable to talk. Cassidy can wipe his tears with $100 bills, a well-paid hostage for a year if Bill Foley deems it the case.

And this is a big problem for the Edmonton Oilers.

Cassidy is “unquestionably” their top choice as their head coach – to use Frank Seravalli’s words – but the Vegas Golden Knights are doing something we haven’t seen with such a high-profile hockey man since the league rid itself of compensation.

“Permission?” says Foley with a smirk. “Why would we give permission to you to improve?”

There’s been this underlying belief that eventually, Cassidy will be allowed to interview with the Oilers or any team across the league, that a semblance of common sense or league business as usual will prevail. Just a hiccup, it’ll get done.

But the longer the situation goes on, legitimate doubt grows.

When you hear words like “contract law is contract law,” those who aren’t intimately familiar with standard contracts and coaching contracts – a guy like me, let’s say – it sure sounds like the NHL doesn’t have a leg to stand on. 

As much as Bettman........

© Oilers Nation