EDMONTON — Well, this is awkward.

As hockey insider Frank Seravalli broke the news on Tuesday that the Vegas Golden Knights were withholding permission for the Edmonton Oilers to speak with fired head coach Bruce Cassidy, the hockey world began its debate:

Who looks worse here? The Oilers, who have a head coach in Kris Knoblauch whom they’ve clearly moved on from — but somehow haven’t bothered to fire yet.

Or the Golden Knights, who have gone against a long-standing tradition of allowing people like Cassidy to move on and re-gain employment elsewhere. Because somewhere along the way, the Golden Knights have decided that they’ll play by their own rules, and if Cassidy thinks that bringing a Cup to Vegas earned him any gratitude within that organization, well, think again.

But let’s start with Edmonton:

The Oilers were caught red-handed seeking a replacement for Knoblauch before they had the decency to commit to firing their coach.

On one hand, it happens all the time in hockey, most often in-season. Like when Vegas was talking to John Tortorella as Cassidy coached the team. Or when Knoblauch was talking to Ken Holland, while Jay Woodcroft was coaching his final........

© Sportsnet