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).

Dean Evason has been with the Minnesota Wild since 2018 and was officially named Head Coach in the summer of 2020. Evason was a Jack Adams Award Finalist in 2021 and joined the Wild organization after spending 6 seasons as Head Coach of the Milwaukee Admirals. Prior to his time in the AHL, Evason spent 6 seasons with Washington as an Assistant Coach, 6 seasons as Head Coach in the Western Hockey League.

Evason retired from his playing career amasing 372 points in 803 career NHL Games over 13 seasons with Washington, Hartford, San Jose, Dallas and Calgary. He is a member of the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame and captained Team Canada to a gold medal at the 1997 World Championship.

Jared Bednar was hired by the Colorado Avalanche in the summer of 2016,  becoming the 15th Head Coach in franchise history. Bednar began his coaching career in the ECHL in 2002 with the South Carolina Stingrays, winning a Kelly Cup Championship in 2009 and was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2020. He made the move to the AHL in 2009, coaching in Abbotsford, Peoria, Springfield and Lake Erie. As Head Coach, he led Lake Erie to a Calder Cup Championship in 2016.

Todd McLellan is in his fourth season as Head Coach of the LA Kings and 29th Head Coach in franchise history.

Upon joining the Kings, McLellan had already logged 11 seasons as a head coach after three-plus seasons with the Edmonton Oilers (2015-19) and seven seasons with the San Jose Sharks (2008-15). He has also won at the highest levels in the game, having captured both the Stanley Cup (2008) and AHL Calder Cup (2003) in addition to leading Team Canada to a gold medal at the 2015 IIHF Men’s World Championship.

Don Granato was named Head Coach of the Buffalo Sabres in July 2021. Over the past 26 years, Granato has coached in the NCAA, USHL, ECHL, AHL, and NHL with experience as a Head Coach, Assistant Coach, General Manager, and Scout. In 1996, he led the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers to a Clark Cup Championship, and in 2000 he led the ECHL’s Peoria Rivermen to a Kelly Cup Championship. Granato was named 2001 AHL Coach of the Year while with the Worcester IceCats. In 2008, Granato was inducted into the Peoria Rivermen Hockey Hall of Fame.

On the International stage, Granato led Team USA to a silver medal at the 2013 U18 World Junior Championship and to a gold medal at the 2015 U18 World Junior Championship. In 2018, he helped guide Team USA to a bronze medal at the 2018 World Championships while serving as the team’s Assistant Coach.

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.

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.

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.