Jun 6, 2022; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft reacts during the third period against the Colorado Avalanche in game four of the Western Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Walter Tychnowicz-USA TODAY Sports
Has Jay Woodcroft not earned the same benefit of doubt that Dave Tippett received: 9 Things
The Edmonton Oilers’ 4-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday night was like taking a deep breath of oxygen for what appeared to be a drowning man.
It allows them to kick harder and get a few meters closer to the shore. The initial hole is so deep that clawing their way back will take some time.
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However, it is a start.
This and more in this issue of…
9 Factors
9. The Oilers took no shots in the third period. According to Reid Wilkins, it was the sixth time in franchise history that this happened, and only the second time they won.
8. The Edmonton Oilers’ victory in Seattle was only the eighth since 2015 in games in which neither Connor McDavid nor Leon Draisaitl scored. Connor is moving better but not handling the puck as well as he should. Hmmm.
More on Leon in a moment…
7. Both Connor Brown and Mattias Janmark are expected to return to the lineup by the end of this week. James Hamblin is a willing fighter who gives you everything he has, but he is a “tweener.” Raphael Lavoie can shoot and is willing to use his size, but I’m concerned about his wheels. It’s difficult to show much more in only 4:11 seconds.
6. Derek Ryan is not a perfect player, and he is likely nearing the end of an admirable career. But his performance on Saturday night demonstrated why he is still in the league. He is not only one of the smartest players on the ice, but he is also willing to break down a wall to win. Ryan took a licking but continued to tick. A true pro.
5. Leon Draisaitl is struggling. When you’re not scoring, make sure you’re still contributing in other ways. Draisaitl did not allow a single scoring chance against 5v5 in 20:51 of work on Saturday. He was 62% of the way around the circle. And a smart back-check most likely saved a goal. The points will arrive. Meanwhile, Leon must continue to do the little things.
4. Goaltending has been a raging fire for Edmonton for the majority of the season. Stuart Skinner, on the other hand, made some crucial saves against the Seattle Kraken on Saturday. Skinner did not attempt to “goalie” the Kraken. But he did give his teammates what most teammates would expect from their goalkeeper. That’s two solid performances in a row for him. What a relief if his game is back. However, in today’s NHL, this club still requires another dependable 40-50 game player, and I doubt Jack Campbell will ever fill that role. It appears that another shoe is about to drop here.
3. I hope no one mentions Dylan Holloway’s four penalty box appearances on Saturday. Holloway bullied his way around the ice for the first time in his young NHL career against Seattle. After a goal and a fight, he was one Derek Ryan post away from a Gordie Howe hat trick in the third period. There was only one game. However, if it leads to more opportunities, it could be the turning point in his professional career. I was relieved to see Jay Woodcroft apparently recognize this as well. He gave the kid more ice as the night progressed and did not sit him after penalties as he has in the past.For good reason, I’ve been critical of Jay’s handling of Dylan Holloway. But I admire the coach’s vision tonight.
2. The season has begun in a disappointing and concerning manner. But some of the angry calls for Ken Holland to be kicked upstairs and not allowed to touch the roster again seemed a little unseemly to me. Yes, he has made mistakes. The signing of Jack Campbell is his most important. So, what do you think of Holland’s criticism? On several counts, you are entirely correct. Ken makes a lot of money, which automatically makes him a target when things don’t go well. It just goes with the territory. However, Ken Holland is a multiple Stanley Cup champion, a respected NHL General Manager, and a Hockey Hall of Famer who has led this team to the playoffs four years in a row. I’m not going to treat Ken Holland like a 19-year-old kid to whom I’d rather not hand the keys to my flashy sports car. Do you really believe he will jeopardize his reputation at this point in his life by doing something inappropriate? I certainly do not.
1.How difficult this has been for Jay Woodcroft. However, it is not entirely unique. The Edmonton Oilers were in a different slump two years ago. Yes, it was a different era, but the basic plot was the same: On paper, a competitive team that is performing far below expectations and has their playoff hopes circling the drain. The firing of then-Head Coach Dave Tippett appeared to be on the horizon. Much ink was spilled and many words were uttered at the time about how the endless rotation of coaches was a big part of the problem in Edmonton. And, up until that point, they were correct about the revolving door. Nonetheless, Dave lost his job.
As Woodcroft has gone through his ordeal, the reaction has been strangely subdued. I’m curious why. Is the situation that dissimilar? Is Jay not entitled to the same benefit of the doubt that Dave Tippett received? In fact, has Woodcroft not accomplished more than Tippett (a man I admired)? I have not agreed with everything Woodcroft has done and am unlikely to do so in the future. But keep in mind that Jay has the advantage of seeing players in a variety of situations, both on and off the ice. He has context and perspective that the majority of us do not. That is something I must respect. He is present in the room. I’m not.
I also consider Woodcroft’s record, which was the second-best in the NHL from February 10th, 2022, to the start of this season. I see five Stanley Cup Playoff series in two seasons. In a nutshell, I see a winner. And, as bad as this season has been, it is still a small sample size in the career of any NHL coach. He also did not put together the roster. He also does not participate in the games.
Jay isn’t out of the woods yet, in my opinion. It is also reasonable to criticize some of his work. Seattle felt better, but it was only one win after losing to the league’s worst team. This is also a very small sample size.
However, perhaps these two points will help everyone see Jay Woodcroft’s situation through a much clearer lens.
