Edmonton Oilers Rumors: Insider hints at Jay Woodcroft's future with Connor McDavid & Co.

Modified Nov 09, 2023 06:36 GMT

The Edmonton Oilers have not had an expected start to the season. Following their recent loss to the Vancouver Canucks, the Oilers have now lost nine games (including an OT loss) and sit just above the Pacific Division's bottom-placed San Jose Sharks after 11 games.

With each defeat on the schedule, the danger of coach Jay Woodcroft losing his job grows. NHL Insider Frank Seravalli recently shared his insights on Woodcroft's future.

According to Seravalli, the Oilers believe that Woodcroft is the right coach for the team. It's just that the team has had some bad luck and some poor performances in front of him this season, and the blame for those shortcomings cannot be placed entirely on Jay Woodcroft's shoulders:

"I think they [Oilers] think Jay Woodcroft is a good coach that has not just had some, this team has had bad luck, but really poor performances in front of him and it can't always be on the coach."

Seravalli noted that the Edmonton Oilers' season thus far cannot be overlooked and that everything's on the table. If their performance continues to be lopsided in the future, it could get worse for Woodcroft going forward with the team:

"But at the same time, I think the true answer here is that everything's on the table, that the longer this goes on, the more they aren't making up ground, they're going to be in big trouble."

Frank Seravalli added:

"Talking about squeaking into the playoffs, the longer this drags on, in a season where it was covered busts, like the failures here, are epic."

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Woodcroft was named the Oilers' 17th coach in the NHL for the 2021-22 season. This is his third season with the Oilers. During that time, the team has made the playoffs twice. Woodcroft has a record of 76-32-12 in 120 games with a .500 win% with the Oilers.

How has the 2023-24 season panned out for the Edmonton Oilers so far?

The Oilers entered the season as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. However, as the NHL approaches the quarter mark of the season, the legitimate contenders are struggling to win so far this season.

The Oilers have been a struggling team thus far. Defense and goaltending have been two of the biggest issues for the Oilers this season. However, having two of the best players, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, together has yet to have an impact on the lineup, which has placed the team's offense under scrutiny as well.

The Edmonton Oilers only played good hockey this season when they beat the Calgary Flames 5-2 in the "Battle of Alberta" Heritage Classic game. Another game in which they outplayed their opponent was a 6-1 win over the Nashville Predators.

With only five points after 11 games, the Oilers are 31st in the league standings with a -18 goal differential. They will be next up against the 32nd-ranked San Jose Sharks on Thursday, Nov. 9.