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Ex-Edmonton Oilers coach Woodcroft lands job interview with another NHL team

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
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May 2 2025, 6:36 pm
Ex-Edmonton Oilers coach Woodcroft lands job interview with another NHL team
Stephen R. Sylvanie/Imagn Images

We haven’t seen former Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft behind an NHL bench for nearly two seasons, but that could soon change.

Woodcroft, who was fired by the Oilers just 13 games into the 2023-24 season, has had a number of interviews for head coaching gigs since his dismissal, but has yet to land a new job. Another opportunity could be coming his way soon, however, as he recently had an interview with the Anaheim Ducks.

As per TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, the Ducks, who recently fired head coach Greg Cronin, held an interview with Woodcroft regarding their coaching vacancy. There are plenty of other potential candidates, however, including David Carle, Mike Sullivan, and Joel Quenneville.

The Oilers are the only NHL team Woodcroft has held a head coaching position with to date. The 48-year-old has spent plenty of time at the NHL level as an assistant coach, and had been serving as the head coach of the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors prior to being hired by the Oilers in favour of Dave Tippett.

Woodcroft was able to lead the Oilers to the Western Conference Final in his first season, before being eliminated in the second round by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2022-23. There was no thought that his coaching job was in jeopardy, but a putrid 3-9-1 start to begin the 2023-24 campaign left former GM Ken Holland was no other option but to part ways with him.

Though his resume as a head coach at the NHL level is brief, it is extremely impressive, as he led the Oilers to a 79-41-13 record through 133 games. It’s somewhat surprising that he’s been on the open market for as long as he has, though it’s clear he’s remaining patient in hopes of being the main bench boss for another organization rather than accepting an assistant coaching position.

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