ESPN November 12, 2023, 12:52 PM ET2 Minute Read
The Edmonton Oilers have fired coach Jay Woodcroft after a 3-9-1 start to the season, the team announced Sunday.
In addition to Woodcroft, assistant Dave Manson is also in Edmonton. The Oilers announced that Kris Knoblauch, coach of the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, will be the new coach in Edmonton, with Hall of Famer and former Oilers defenseman Paul Coffey joining the team as an assistant.
Starting the season with Stanley Cup hopes, Edmonton lost to the NHL’s worst team, the San Jose Sharks, on Thursday night before picking up a 4-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Saturday. The Oilers have the second fewest points in the league standings (seven).
Woodcroft led the Oilers to a 50-23-9 record (109 points) last season and was the league’s top scoring offense (325 goals). Edmonton lost in the second round of the playoffs to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights.
Despite a strong offense, the Oilers are 26th in scoring this season. After leading the league with 64 goals last season, star centerman Connor McDavid only has two. Leon Draisaitl had 52 in the 2022-23 season and five this season, including just one in the last 10 games.
During the McDavid era, the Oilers struggled to find a defense and goaltender that matched their offense. Last season they were 17th in the league in goals conceded as Stuart Skinner emerged as a possible goalkeeper of the future. He and Jack Campbell were expected to provide a one-two punch that could get them deep into the playoffs, but Campbell, who was making $5 million a year, was claimed off waivers last week.
The New York Rangers, parent club of the Hartford Wolf Pack, will name Steve Smith as the team’s interim coach, sources told ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski.