By Allan Mitchell (The Athletic)
Jay Woodcroft is having great success as coach of the Edmonton Oilers. His regular season teams have made the playoffs both times, and the Oilers are three for four in playoff series since he arrived from the AHL Bakersfield Condors.
Woodcroft’s edge comes via the best player(s) in the game, a now-balanced roster and coaching innovations.
He started running 11 forwards and seven defencemen (as opposed to the 12-6 alignment that is traditional) shortly after arrival and it clicked. Opponents had a more difficult time line matching, and Woodcroft was able to hide inexperienced players down the stretch and into the playoffs.
This year, during the difficult series that just ended against the Los Angeles Kings, Woodcroft enjoyed great success with a unique depth line. He used the fourth line as a “donut” line, a trio with a revolving centre. In the rotation of lines, he double-shifted the freshest impact centre (Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl) with the fourth-line wingers.
It gives the team an edge during a time when the opposition is deploying their depth personnel.
Looking forward to the series against the Vegas Golden Knights, and beyond, Woodcroft’s innovations could be key to Edmonton’s success. Here are some things to look for in the days ahead.
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