Over the past two years, the Edmonton Oilers have been moving in the right direction. They knocked on the door of the Stanley Cup Finals two seasons ago but failed to advance, and last year they exited in the second round against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Having two of the world's best players on the same roster has increased their chances, along with the support of the rest of the team. However, there's one man who hasn't received as much attention, though it seems he's gaining more recognition: Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft.
Woodcroft rose through the ranks of the NHL as a video coach with the Red Wings, then served as an assistant coach for the Sharks and the Oilers in his first stints. He was later named the head coach of the Bakersfield Condors. During his time with the Condors from 2018 to 2022, he won the Calder Cup in 2021 with a record of 24-14-1, resulting in a .628 winning percentage.
After demonstrating his ability to lead an NHL team, the Oilers organization was poised to part ways with Dave Tippett. They entrusted the job to Woodcroft, and he has proven to be the right man for the position.
The Oilers have responded well to his systems, reflected in various statistics, including second-place and first-place rankings in power play efficiency, wins, total points, and average pace points. Woody is undoubtedly steering this team toward the finals in the coming years.
