Todd McLellan is returning as Edmonton Oilers head coach next season, but there will be changes to the rest of his coaching staff.
Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli had hinted that changes were coming earlier this month when he said there will be a period of evaluation surrounding the coaching staff and that everyone was under scrutiny after the Oilers missed the playoffs this past season.
It appears that the evaluation period is over. On Friday, Chiarelli announced that McLellan will be back behind the Oilers bench next season.
“At the end of the day I really believe in Todd as a coach,” he said. “I know we had a tough year but I think we work well together and I felt a fresh start for him, a fresh base is what I like to call it for him to reinvigorate and energize him.”
The “fresh start” means McLellan’s assistants Jay Woodcroft, Jim Johnson, and Ian Herbers will not be returning to the Oilers.
“It’s not something that any of us are happy about but, based on our performance, changes were inevitable,” McLellan said. “We’re at a situation now where our staff is changing.
“We worked many years together, we worked hard, we gave each other everything we had and gave both San Jose and Edmonton everything we had. It’s now time for change and time to refresh things.”
Woodcroft will be moving on to a different role within the organization as head coach of the Oilers AHL affiliate in Bakersfield.
“There are some really good hockey people that have been let go and they are going to find their way with other organizations but in the meantime we will be reorganizing our staff and looking for people that can come in and make an impact with Edmonton,” McLellan said.
LISTEN: Edmonton Oilers head coach Todd McLellan on Oilers NOW
Woodcroft said he talked with Chiarelli and McLellan about the opportunity in Bakersfield earlier this week. It’s a change he’s looking forward to with all the talent that’s going through Bakersfield.
“Organizationally, I think it’s an exciting time,” Woodcroft said. “There’s a new wave of players that are coming into the organization and it’s a responsibility that I take very seriously. I’m looking forward to getting started.”
Woodcroft has been known as McLellan’s right hand man for years. Woodcroft said working with McLellan, who he calls a coach at the top of his field, has prepared him to move into a head coach position.
“I’ve had an everyday education on how to do it right,” he said. “Todd, obviously, is an unbelievable head coach to learn from. Every day was a master class in human relations and high performance and tactics.”
In a release issued Friday afternoon, Chiarelli thanked Johnson and Herbers for their time in Edmonton.
“On behalf of the organization, I would like to thank Jim and Ian for their time and service to the Edmonton Oilers and wish them all the best in their future endeavors.”
McLellan compiled a record of 114-109-23 during three seasons as Oilers head coach.
In his second season behind the bench, he lead the Oilers to their first playoff berth in 11 seasons.
But this past season, the Oilers took a big step back. They missed the playoffs by a wide margin, finishing with 25 fewer points than the year before.
“I’m not absolving myself in any of this because I have to be better in providing him with players, but he’s too good of a coach not to keep,” Chiarelli said. “He’s got a lot of good qualities and we all can improve and we’re going to do that.”
The rest of the Oilers coaching staff will be announced at a later date.