Executive Committee

Bruce Cassidy was named the third Head Coach in Vegas Golden Knights franchise history on June 14, 2022. A year later, Cassidy guided the Knights to a Stanley Cup Championship. Cassidy began coaching in 1996, having spent time in the OHL, ECHL, IHL, AHL and NHL. In his more than 25 years behind the bench, Cassidy has served as a Head Coach in the NHL with Washington, Boston and Vegas. In 2020, he was named the Jack Adams Award Winner for NHL Coach of the Year and in 2002, he was awarded the Louis AR Pieri Award for AHL Coach of the Year during his time in Grand Rapids.

As a player, Cassidy was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft in the 1st round (18th overall).

Pete DeBoer is in his third season behind the bench for the Dallas Stars after being named the 25th Head Coach in franchise history and 10th in team history on June 21, 2022.

In his first season as head coach of the Stars in 2022-23, DeBoer guided the club to a Western Conference Final appearance in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs after finishing the regular season with a 47-21-14 record (108 points).

The Dunnville, Ontario native owns a record of 560-400-137 in 1,097 games coached over 15 NHL seasons with Dallas, Vegas, San Jose, New Jersey, and Florida. Since entering the league in 2008-09, DeBoer ranks fourth in regular season wins and first in games coached. In the 2023 postseason, the Stars became the fourth franchise DeBoer has led to a Conference Finals/Semifinals appearance (also Vegas, San Jose, and New Jersey), a feat accomplished by only one other head coach in NHL history – Scotty Bowman (5; St. Louis, Montreal, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Detroit).

John Hynes was named Head Coach of the Minnesota Wild on Nov. 27, 2023. A veteran of eight seasons as an NHL Head Coach, Hynes owns a career record of 284-255-63 (.524) in 601 regular season games with the Nashville Predators and New Jersey Devils.

He played forward at Boston University (1993-97) and helped the Terriers advance to four consecutive Frozen Four appearances and win the 1995 NCAA championship. Hynes was inducted into the Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame on August 23, 2023.

Knoblauch was named the 18th Head Coach in Edmonton Oilers history on November 13, 2023. He had previously been at the helm of the Hartford Wolf Pack, the AHL affiliate of the New York Rangers since the 2019-20 season. Compiling a record of 119-90-32 during his four-plus seasons behind the bench, he guided Hartford to the third round of the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs.

Prior to his time in Hartford, the Imperial, Saskatchewan native spent four-plus seasons in the OHL with the Erie Otters. After assuming head coaching duties for the team during the 2012-13 season, Knoblauch led the Otters to an unprecedented CHL record four-consecutive 50-win seasons. Following their appearance in OHL Final in 2014-15 and his OHL Coach of the Year award in 2015-16, the Otters claimed the league title in 2017.

From Erie, Knoblauch joined the coaching staff of the Philadelphia Flyers, with whom he served as an Assistant Coach during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 campaigns. In July of 2019, he was named the seventh Head Coach in Hartford Wolf Pack history.

Knoblauch began his coaching career in 2006 with the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders, serving as an Assistant Coach before moving to the Kootenay Ice in 2007-08. Eventually taking over as Head Coach for two seasons beginning in 2010-11, the Knoblauch-led Ice claimed the WHL championship in his first season at the helm.

Lindy Ruff was named Head Coach of the Buffalo Sabres on April 22, 2024. He returns to Buffalo ranked fifth all-time and second among active coaches with 864 career regular-season wins for the Sabres, Dallas Stars, and New Jersey Devils. His 935 combined wins in the regular season and playoffs are tied for fourth in league history. He holds Sabres’ records for regular-season games (1,165), regular-season wins (571), Stanley Cup Playoff games coached (101), and playoff wins (57). Ruff has made the playoffs in each of his three stops as a Head Coach (Buffalo, Dallas, and New Jersey), including a 112-point finish with the Devils in the 2022-2023 season.

Internationally, Ruff has served as Head Coach for Team Canada at the IIHF World Championship (2009 and 2013), winning a silver medal in 2009. He won two gold medals as an Assistant Coach for Canada at the Olympic Games in 2010 and 2014.

Prior to coaching, Ruff was a second-round selection by the Sabres in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft and played parts of 10 seasons for Buffalo, including a stint as team captain from 1986-87 until he was traded to the New York Rangers in 1989. He’s tied for 15th in Sabres’ players history with 608 games played.

Glen Gulutzan was introduced as an Oilers Assistant Coach prior to the 2018-19 season after spending the previous two seasons as Head Coach of the NHL’s Calgary Flames.

Prior to joining the Flames, Gulutzan was an Assistant Coach with the Vancouver Canucks in 2013-14 and served as the Head Coach of the Dallas Stars from 2011-2013. Gulutzan also coached the American Hockey League’s (AHL) Texas Stars from 2009-2011 and led the Stars to the Calder Cup Final in 2009-10. Gulutzan also coached the ECHL’s Las Vegas Wranglers for six seasons, receiving ECHL Coach of the Year honours in 2005-06.

The Hudson Bay, Sask., native played seven seasons of professional hockey in the West Coast Hockey League (WCHL) for the Fresno Falcons as a player/assistant coach, winning the championship in 2002. He also spent one season playing for Vassan Sport in Finland. Gulutzan played junior hockey for the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Moose Jaw Warriors, Brandon Wheat Kings and Saskatoon Blades from 1987-1992 and two seasons with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.

Jimmy Waite has been with the Chicago Blackhawks organization since 2014 as the team’s Goaltending Coach. Prior to joining the Blackhawks, Waite spent 3 year in the QMJHL with Chicoutimi as a Goaltending Coach. Waite was a member of the 2015 Stanley Cup Championship with Chicago.

As a player, Waite was drafted 8th overall in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks, playing in 106 career games. Internationally, Waite represented team Canada at the U20 World Junior Championships in 1988 winning a gold medal and was named the tournaments best goaltender.

Brett Leonhardt is entering his 11th season as the Capitals’ video coach and fifth as an assistant coach. Leonhardt’s responsibilities include developing and delivering game plan meetings and pre-scouting opponents at even strength.

Leonhardt spent two seasons in the NHL office in Toronto as their video manager for hockey operations beginning in 2011. In his role, he was responsible for breaking down and handling all video for rule changes, video reviews, officiating issues and more.

Prior to his time with the NHL, Leonhardt received a Bachelor of Arts in communications and media arts at Neumann University and was a recipient of the John A. Phillips Scholar-Athlete Award as well as the John Facenda Award for excellence in communication arts.