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Ex-Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft opens up on tough feelings about being fired in Cup Final year
Photo credit: USA Today Sports
The Edmonton Oilers had a rollercoaster season last year, with the firing of Jay Woodcroft being a clear low point before they found their game and made the Cup Final.
Woodcroft perhaps too unfair blame for an early losing streak and paid for it with his job. Last year, Woodcroft even said he stopped watching the Oilers.
Jay Woodcroft opens up on being fired by Edmonton Oilers and seeing them make the Stanley Cup Final
In an expansive new interview with Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff, the former Oilers coach fully opened up on the tough feelings towards his time in Edmonton.
Woodcroft mentioned that he was obviously disappointed to be fired, and believed that the group was capable of a Stanley Cup - but he's also grateful to the organization, and for the time he spent behind the bench.
You're disappointed. You want to see something come to fruition, and you've invested a lot of time in trying to reach a goal.
When you get relieved of your duties after a poor start, which I fully own, but unfortunately for myself and for Dave Manson who were relieved of our duties, we didn't get to see it through.
- Jay Woodcroft
When you get relieved of your duties after a poor start, which I fully own, but unfortunately for myself and for Dave Manson who were relieved of our duties, we didn't get to see it through.
- Jay Woodcroft
The former coach also reiterated his belief that this Oilers group is still very much on the cusp of winning. Three years in a row now they've challenged and lost to the Cup Chanpions, a learning experience Woodcroft believes will only fuel them more.
I thought the team was 90% there. There were a lot of good signs in the team game. More than anything when we talk about emotion, I look back on 9 great years in the organization.
That's three years in a row that group has been this close. Three years in a row they've lost to the Stanley Cup Champions. They're on the cusp, and I know the character of the people involved. Was I surprised that they had that success? No.
- Jay Woodcroft
That's three years in a row that group has been this close. Three years in a row they've lost to the Stanley Cup Champions. They're on the cusp, and I know the character of the people involved. Was I surprised that they had that success? No.
- Jay Woodcroft
Jay Woodcroft still looking for another NHL coaching job
Woodcroft was memorably fired after a brutal loss to the San Jose Sharks where the Oilers clearly didn't bring their game.
However, they were also sunk by Jack Campbell in net at the time, and Stuart Skinner struggling significantly too.
There's no doubt Coach Knoblauch is a capable coach of this group too, after the rookie successfully steered them out of the basement and to the Cup Final. Still though, Woodcroft did get the short end of the stick.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 18 | 969 ANSWERS Ex-Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft opens up on tough feelings about being fired in Cup Final year Do you think Woodcroft deserved to be fired by the Oilers? | ||
| Yes | 462 | 47.7 % |
| No | 507 | 52.3 % |
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