When the Oilers began the season to a horrendous 2-9-1 record, Jay Woodcroft unfairly paid a price for the team's failure. Woodcroft was a quality coach in his time with the Oilers, having a career record of 79-41-13, and arguably lost his job simply due to terrible goaltending.
Then, as a few other head coaching jobs began to open up in Minnesota, St. Louis, and Ottawa, Woodcroft was surprisingly not connected to any teams for a coaching job. However, that's changed now according to a report from NHL insider Frank Seravalli.
After immediately hiring Jacques Martin as their interim coach, the Ottawa Senators ownership group is rumoured to have begun searching for their next coach. Despite wanting to hire a GM before their coach, the Senators are thinking of Woodcroft for the role.
Seravalli reported that among Woodcroft, John Gruden, Dean Evason, Claude Julien, and Chris Kelly are also candidates.
Despite the rocky start to the year that cost him his job, most Oilers fans still believe in Woodcroft's coaching abilities, and wish him well on the next opportunity he has - and he deserves it.