Woodcroft comes to terms on new coaching contract with Oilers

Walter Tychnowicz/USA TODAY Sports

The Edmonton Oilers and coach Jay Woodcroft have come to terms on a new three-year contract, the team announced Tuesday.

Woodcroft finished tied for 12th in voting for the Jack Adams Award for NHL Coach of the Year after joining the Oilers partway through the season.

𝗪𝗢𝗢𝗗𝗬 = 𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡𝗘𝗗 ✍️

The #Oilers have extended the contract of Head Coach Jay Woodcroft through the 2024-25 season.#LetsGoOilers

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) June 21, 2022

Nick Kypreos was the first to report. Contract talks weren’t underway eight days ago, according to an earlier report from Kypreos. Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff also reported Woodcroft was originally seeking a four-year deal.

Continued contract talks have lead Jay Woodcroft agreeing to a 3 yr contract today with @EdmontonOilers #Donedeal @FAN590 @FAN590 @Sportsnet @NHL

— Nick Kypreos (@RealKyper) June 21, 2022

“I think Woody did a fabulous job,” Oilers general manager Ken Holland said after the team was eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs two weeks ago.

“The team responded to him and I told him he and I would meet early next week, Monday or Tuesday, and have a discussion. Would I like him back? Yes, I am interested in him coming back. I want to hear what he’s thinking. But I think he did a great job and was a big part of what we accomplished.”

The Oilers hired Woodcroft on February 10 after struggling through a 7-13-3 run that spanned just over two months. He replaced the outgoing Dave Tippett, netting himself a promotion from the Bakersfield Condors of the American Hockey League.

After his hiring, Woodcroft led Edmonton to the NHL’s third-best winning percentage at .724 by way of a 26-9-3 record. The regular-season result was the Oilers’ seventh-best finish in franchise history.

He also helped them to a first-round seven-game series win against the Los Angeles Kings and a second-round five-game series win versus the Calgary Flames.

Edmonton was swept in the Western Conference Final by the Colorado Avalanche.

“I’ve worked here for seven years. Proud member of this organization. This is my third different job title. I enjoyed it. I’ve enjoyed my time here,” Woodcroft said a day after the elimination.

Woodcroft’s new deal would see him run Edmonton’s bench through the 2024-25 season.

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