NHL Roundup: Predators sign Jeremy Lauzon, Vegas makes Cassidy hire official, and more

On June 6th, the Bruins let Bruce Cassidy go and in just a little over a week of unemployment he’s been hired.

Reports surfaced yesterday that the Vegas Golden Knights and Cassidy agreed on a deal. Within an hour of that news the team made it official.

“The Golden Knights are very pleased to have Bruce come in to coach our team,” said general manager Kelly McCrimmon in a statement. “His success in Boston over six years is extremely impressive. His teams have had a clear identity, having been among the very best in the NHL in terms of goals for, goals against, goal differential and special teams. This is the right coach for our team at this time.”

Cassidy became Boston’s head coach in February of 2017 and finished with a 245-108-26 record. During his tenure the Bruins reached the Stanley Cup Final once in 2019 losing to the St. Louis Blues. He also won the Jack Adams Award in 2019-20.

In his final season, he guided the B’s to a 51-26-5 finish and secured the first wild card spot, losing to the Carolina Hurricanes in 7 games.

“I am excited to join an organization that shares my commitment to winning and can’t wait to get to work with the talent that has been assembled in Vegas,” Bruce Cassidy said. “It’s been impressive to watch the city embrace the Golden Knights from afar, and my family and I look forward to becoming a part of that.”

New York Rangers hire Jessica Campbell

The New York Rangers announced on Tuesday the hiring of Jessica Campbell as a coach for their upcoming Development Camp.

The 29 year-old was an assistant coach for Team Germany at the World Championship. The first-ever woman to do so in a men’s tournament. Her lists of accomplishment in hockey are long, including being a captain for Team Canada in international play.

“My goal as a coach has always been to coach at the highest level,” Campbell told the IIHF website during the preliminary round in May. “It wasn’t really about the women’s game or the men’s game. In player development, you’re working with players of all ages, all levels, but I knew I wanted to work with pro athletes. But the transition going to the men’s game excited me, not because of the challenges but I felt I had a unique voice and unique perspective. The way I see things might be different, and that has allowed me to separate myself and establish a little bit more of a niche on the men’s side. I’m excited by that.”

NHL.com

In other news, the Rangers signed SHL Free Agent Gustav Rydahl.

Rydahl, 27, registered 30 points in 44 games for Farjestad BK last season. For his SHL career he has 108 points in 371 games. The versatile and big forward (6-3, 201 lbs) can play center and played for Team Sweden at the 2022 Olympics.

Avs sign Lukas Sedlak

As the Colorado Avalanche get ready to play for the Stanley Cup, GM Joe Sakic is at work prepping for next season.

On Monday, he signed forward Lukas Sedlak to a one-year contract. The 29 year-old played in the KHL last season posting 43 points in 49 games for Traktor Chelyabinsk.