Jay Woodcroft
Most Recent Stop: Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers were at one point alongside the San Jose Sharks at the bottom of the Western Conference standings. Then, Jay Woodcroft lost his job, and Kris Knoblauch was hired. Since then, the Oilers have been 44-15-4 as of this writing. They are one of the best teams in the league and a true contender for the Stanley Cup.
So, why would the Devils want Woodcroft in New Jersey? Woodcroft has been very successful in the past. In his six years as a head coach, he’s won an AHL Calder Cup, he took the Oilers to the Western Conference Finals, and he’s only 47 years old. While most head coaches on this list are closer to the end of their career than the beginning, Woodcroft could be a head coach for 20 more years.
It’s not like Woodcroft did a terrible job. It’s very possible that Woodcroft just had bad luck and went on a bad streak at the wrong time. Heck, the Oilers fired him after his team’s best performance of the season. It’s possible they already turned it around.
Woodcroft will absolutely get an interview with Fitzgerald and Co. He should be seriously considered. Many coaches win championships quickly in their second stop. Maybe Woodcroft is the next coach to do it.