Chicago Blackhawks bench hire: Coach Jay Woodcroft's name has just been raised to replace Luke Richardson

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Joshua Deeds
November 12, 2024 (5:29 PM)

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The Chicago Blackhawks seem to have bit a brick wall this season. They struggle to produce enough offense to win games, and if they do it's late in the 3rd period till they fire up the engine.

Is it a matter of a badly built roster, or coaching? It could be both! The Blackhawks have had the line blender out a lot lately, and are 7th in the Central Division with a 6-9-1 record.

If GM Kyle Davidson does goback to the drawing board, there's one Coach available they should consider.

Former Edmonton Oilers bench boss, Jay Woodcroft.

Woodcroft took the Oilers to the playoffs twice during his tenure and surprisingly was passed up by many clubs who took Jim Hynes, and Dean Evason over Woodcroft.

Former Oilers Coach Jay Woodcroft Could Get Another NHL Job With Two Coaches on Hot Seat

Arguably, his tenure was too short in Edmonton, but since the two teams have ties in players, coaches and now GMs why not add another with a coach like Woody?

He helped produce an Oilers team who was a run-and-gun style of offense which could be of benefit to Bedard.

While there's discussion of who could replace Martin St. Louis in Montreal, that list should look similar for Kyle Davidson and Chicago.

The list per TFP:

"Aside from [Gerard] Gallant, other possibilities could be considered, such as former Edmonton Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft and perhaps even current Boston head coach Jim Montgomery, if the Bruins decide to let him go."

- David Calabretta

It's been one year since his dismissal in Edmonton, and he and Gerard Gallant are two coaches who haven't found roles in the NHL since.

Despite that, Woodcroft apparently isn't old enough or connected enough to get run through the wash-rinse cycle, like someone like John Tortorella.

Woodcroft had led the Oilers to a 76-31-12 record along with three playoff series wins over his first year-and-a-half behind the bench but the team struggled mightily to adopt a new system he tried to implement for the 2023-24 season.

We shouldn't discount his experience in Edmonton, but at this point, his record isn't anything to ignore. His short-term success could be the Blackhawks' gain, if they shift priorities, like to winning.