Former Oilers’ coach Jay Woodcroft makes questionable professional move

Back in November 2023, when the Edmonton Oilers had put up an abysmal 3-9-1 record, head coach Jay Woodcroft was let go and eventually replaced by Kris Knoblauch.

On Friday, insider Frank Seravalli of Daily Face-Off reports that Woodcroft is spending the next few days in Philadelphia as an invited guest of John Tortorella to the Flyers’ training camp.

“ Woodcroft is there to observe and watch, learning and adding to his toolset while waiting for his next opportunity.”

While this certainly shows how dedicated Woodcroft is to his craft and his career in the NHL, fans are wondering if the former Oilers’ bench boss is picking the best mentor.

However, Tortorella, despite the many controversies on his attitude and coaching styles, has been around for quite some time in the NHL.

Woodcroft coached the Oilers for a total of 133 games. The team had a 79-41-13 record and had a .643 points percentage over the course of one full season and two partial campaigns.

Earlier this summer, Woodcroft stepped behind the bench to coach team Canada for the 2024 IIHF World Championship in Prague and Czechia. However, the team ended in fourth place after losing the Bronze medal to Sweden.

It feels like Woodcroft will find his way behind the bench of an NHL team relatively soon, and in the meantime, he wants to make sure he stays on his toes and can learn more to add to his curriculum.