Bruce Cassidy had no connection to Dominique Ducharme. The two men had never worked together in the past.
But when the Golden Knights lost two assistants in Misha Donskov (hired as an assistant with the Dallas Stars) and Ryan Craig (promoted to head coach of the Henderson Silver Knights in the American League), Cassidy extended a pole toward Some Charm.
In his eyes, he had the desired profile to work with behind the bench for the Vegas Golden Knights, the Stanley Cup champion team.
On that day of optional on-ice practice at the Bell Center for the Golden Knights, Cassidy described the marriage between Ducharme and his team.
“I didn’t know Dom,” the 58-year-old told the Journal in an interview. But Sean Burke had worked with him in Montreal. Kelly McCrimmon, our GM, also had a connection with Dom as they held assistant positions during the Junior World Championships [2016]. I received a radiant portrait of Dom.”
“I then did my homework by calling other former colleagues of Ducharme. They all told me he was a smart hockey player and a good person. I wanted to find an assistant who had experience as an NHL head coach. Dom checked that box.”
“And I saw myself in him a little bit,” he continued. I got my first chance in the NHL at a young age in Washington [37 ans] and I was fired. I believe in the concept of another chance. And Dom has one final appearance on his resume with the Canadian. It’s not nothing.
A positive encounter
Seated in a Bell Center hallway while Alex Pietrangelo and Brayden McNabb threw an exercise ball with the team’s strength and conditioning coach or pushed a cast iron a few feet away, Cassidy talked about his new assistant for more than 15 minutes.
Photo Getty Images via AFP
The Journal had asked to speak with Ducharme, but team policy prevents lawmakers from offering interviews to the media.
“When I met Dom for the job this summer, he charmed me,” Cassidy said. He didn’t tell me what he could do for the Golden Knights, but he asked me questions about how he could help our group. I liked his approach. He wanted to go back to work.”
“He had success in the QMJHL in Halifax, winning the World Juniors and managing the Montreal Canadiens. I know the finals season was a strange year, but he was still the one who led his team to the finals against Tampa.
“He has a good eye, he can quickly analyze the picture of a team and he has creative ideas to generate offense. He experienced the reality of being a head coach and assistant in the NHL. I like the way he communicates with the players and his down-to-earth manner.”
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Financially, Ducharme still had one year left on his contract with the Canadian. In July 2021 he signed a contract extension with CH for three years and 5.1 million (1.7 million per year).
Released less than a year later (February 9, 2022) and replaced by Martin St-Louis, Ducharme wasn’t about to just watch the clock and wait for his contract to end before having another experience.
“Yeah, he wanted to get back into action,” Cassidy recalled. He decided to embark on the adventure even though his contract with CH still runs for one season. For me it was a sure sign. He has a passion for his profession. I have approached coaches in the past who told me they were unwilling to listen to an offer because they wanted to wait out their contract or wait for a head coaching position. Dom wanted to get back on his feet.”
In his role as assistant and in charge of forwards for the Golden Knights, Ducharme will add more strengths to his bow. And he’s doing it with one of the NHL’s good teams. One day the phone might ring again, but for a return as head coach.
“I want him to be a head coach in the NHL again if he wants to,” Cassidy said. He will have learned from his time in Montreal and in Vegas. There are always ups and downs. The life of a coach is not a straight path. He fits into our team very well.”
An emotional encounter
Cassidy had one request for his new assistant for Thursday night’s game against the Habs at the Bell Center.
“I don’t know the Canadiens’ plan for Dom, but I imagine the fans will recognize the work he has done for this team,” he said. We are in an industry where trainers parade one after another. But there are also people behind it. It will be an emotional encounter for Dom. There are a lot of images that run through his mind.”