Jay Woodcroft to face mentor Todd McLellan in first round of Stanley Cup Playoffs
It’s one coach who saw something in a younger guy and gave him his shot almost 15 years ago
It’s one coach who saw something in a younger guy and gave him his shot almost 15 years ago
Head Coach Jay Woodcroft’s change to 11 forwards and seven defencemen opens up some opportunities on the Oilers
Jay Woodcroft is off to a great start as an NHL head coach. The Edmonton Oilers are 17-7-2 in Woodcroft’s 26 games as an NHL head coach.
But Woodcroft, 45, with 23 NHL games as the Oilers head coach and McLellan, who has run the show for 1,000, are as close as their teams in the standings in the Pacific Division.
As long as Woodcroft keeps them positioned for playoffs, you have to figure he’s got the full-time job
It was at a modest house in the Toronto suburb of Don Mills where Jay Woodcroft first dreamed of a future in the NHL, and ideally with the Oilers.
In an organization that has spit out vintage names like Tom Renney, Todd McLellan, Dave Tippett and Ken Hitchcock, Jay Woodcroft arrives as Bakersfield beaujolais. A fresh new tannin for a tired, thirsty palate.
Thompson says Edmonton relies on special teams, Calgary thrives at even strength
With the Edmonton Oilers closing in on a playoff berth, head coach Dave Tippett credits the team’s leadership group for providing a spark.
Edmonton’s Dave Tippett doesn’t look at an iPad during games.
“No, there’s too much going on,” he says.
But, like any coach, he craves updated, accurate information.
The biggest news story after the Edmonton Oilers‘ 3-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday was that Connor McDavid scored his 500th point in the NHL. But another milestone was also reached for Oilers coach Dave Tippett, who secured his 600th win as an NHL head coach.
Dave Tippett arguably has the combination of the top two talents in the game together on the same team in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. But he otherwise sounds like Casey Stengel when he was manager of the New York Mets.
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