Bruce Cassidy is enjoying Las Vegas and it didn’t take him long to figure out the type of passionate hockey market it has quickly become.
Cassidy, the Vegas Golden Knights’ first-year coach, joined the “NHL @TheRink” podcast and spoke with co-host Dan Rosen about what he has discovered in his new home.
“I didn’t realize how hockey mad they were out here,” Cassidy said from his hotel room in Buffalo, where the Golden Knights visit the Buffalo Sabers on Thursday at 7 pm ET; ESPN+, HULU, SN NOW). “You see it in minor hockey rinks. They sell the license plates. It’s unbelievable, every seventh or eighth car that goes by you has a Vegas Golden Knights license plate. People are really into it here and they’re talking hockey. That part surprised me.
“I have been here and played so I saw how passionate they were with their fan base and how loud it was in the building and the show they put on before, but just in general, that’s the part that I think takes you a little by surprise when you come from such an established market like Boston.”
Cassidy, who coached the Boston Bruins for the previous six seasons, said his family is also getting used to the weather, and liking it, as one would naturally assume coming from the colder Northeast climate.
“We’re getting to appreciate that now,” Cassidy said. “At first it was so [darn] hot in August. They start school in August out there and it’s 108 degrees and it’s like, ‘It’s a dry heat.’ Yeah, it’s still 108 and for a Canadian like myself you’re like, ‘Man, this is tough.’ But I appreciate it now. You get up in the morning, let the dog out and you’ve got shorts on and maybe a sweatshirt in November. This is the time we all appreciate out there.”
Cassidy mostly appreciates how the Golden Knights have played early in his tenure as their coach. Vegas has the best record in the NHL at 12-2-0 and has won eight straight games.
The biggest story in Vegas has been the play of goalies Logan Thompson and Adin Hill. Thompson is 7-2-0 with a 2.12 goals-against average, .930 save percentage and two shutouts in nine starts and Hill is 5-0-0 with a 2.17 GAA and .925 save percentage in five starts.
Cassidy said Thompson, 25, reminds him of Thompson Jeremy Swaymanthe Bruins goalie he had last season.
“They’re confident,” he said. “They have great work ethic. I would say Logan is a little more athletic in terms of his style of play vs. Jeremy, who is a little more technically spot to spot. But both (are) young guys that love coming to the rink , work hard at their craft, good personalities around the room. Guys want to play for them. So far so good with Logan.
It’s the same with Hill, but Cassidy said he’s curious to see how the goalies handle adversity when it comes.
Cassidy also touched on the play of center Jack Eichel, who leads Vegas with 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 14 games. The coach said Eichel’s play away from the puck has surprised him the most.
“The unknown would be, is he willing to check in his own end to get pucks back, and he’s been unbelievable,” Cassidy said. “Our center has a lot of responsibility from board to board in the slot area and he’s done a great job of buying into that, closing quickly and getting pucks back. Coming late with speed underneath and getting pucks from his wingers has really benefited his game. as well. So both sides of the puck he’s been excellent. No complaints.”
In addition to the 15-minute interview with Cassidy, Rosen and Shawn P. Roarke touched on a number of topics, including reasons why the St. Louis Blues have lost eight in a row, concerns they have about the New York Rangers, praise for the New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils, memories they have of the late Peter McNab and the upcoming Hockey Hall of Fame induction weekend celebration.
The “NHL @TheRink” podcast is free and listeners can subscribe on all podcast platforms. It is also available on NHL.com/multimedia/podcasts and the NHL app.
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