Edmonton Oilers Head Coach Jay Woodcroft is fired
The Edmonton Oilers have sacked head coach Jay Woodcroft and assistant coach Dave Manson following a dismal 2023–24 campaign. They have also appointed Paul Coffey as an assistant coach and Kris Knoblauch as the head coach.
The Oilers announced today that Dave Manson, the assistant coach, and head coach Jay Woodcroft have been let go
Assistant coach Paul Coffey will accompany head coach Kris Knoblauch of the Hartford Wolf Pack when he takes over as head coach of the Oilers.
Results compared to expectations can go very well or very badly. This has not gone well for Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft. Following an unexpectedly bad start to the season, the Oilers made the decision to cut ties with Woodcroft. With Dave Tippett’s resignation midway through the 2021–22 season, Woodcroft assumed leadership in Edmonton. That year, Woodcroft—who was formerly with the Bakersfield Condors, an AHL affiliate of the Oilers—led Edmonton to the Conference Finals. In the offseason, he then inked a three-year deal to become the team’s permanent head coach. He would lead the Oilers to another postseason appearance the next year. falling in the second round, this time to the Seattle Kraken.
But the Oilers astonished everyone this season. in a negative manner, too. Edmonton was the early favorite to win the Stanley Cup and looked great right away. They were vying for the title of worst team with the San Jose Sharks. San Jose is rebuilding, though. Not the Oilers, though. And that has an impact.
What This Signifies
Letting go of the otherwise very good coach could seem hasty. On the other hand, the Oilers were the early favorites to win the Cup. Not to mention, they have two of the best forwards in the league, Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid. A fall this far is simply too much to bear when you have this much weaponry and these kinds of expectations. Furthermore, the Oilers’ top management was at its breaking point.
Given how frequently coaches are replaced in the NHL and Woodcroft’s track record of achievement, it’s possible that he’ll soon find himself behind another bench. Edmonton, meanwhile, will try to get back on track with Knoblauch as quickly as possible in order to reclaim a postseason berth. Never say never, but Woodcroft won’t be there, whether in the playoffs or not.
