There are 11 words that the Edmonton Oilers are hoping to hear: “Vegas has granted the Oilers permission to speak to Bruce Cassidy.”

It’s the man the team has been after for over two weeks, playing the waiting game with the Golden Knights to see if, or when, they will budge and grant the Oilers permission to speak with him. The story broke on May 12 that Vegas had been stalling the Oilers’ efforts, right as they were in the midst of closing out their second-round series against the Anaheim Ducks.

Between that series wrapping up on May 14 and the Western Conference final against the Colorado Avalanche six days later, the Golden Knights didn’t blink. In fact, they got caught up in a firestorm when John Tortorella didn’t speak to the media after their Game 6 win over the Ducks, resulting in a $100,000 fine and the team being docked a second-round draft pick. An unsuccessful appeal with the league later, and general manager Kelly McCrimmon finally addressed the Cassidy news: “We’ve been consistent that our focus currently is on the Stanley Cup playoffs, and the teams have respected that. I’ve spoken with Bruce. He understands this as well.”

Sure.

The Golden Knights now hit another lull period, completing a shocking........

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