Jay Woodcroft is interviewing with the Maple Leafs and the LA Kings and Chayka needs to move fast
Photo credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
The Los Angeles Kings already have an interview with Jay Woodcroft; one of the top names in the coaching market and Toronto's window to act is closing quickly.
Although the Anaheim Ducks were eliminated by the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, they need to be proud of the fact that not only did they give Vegas all they could, but managed to dispatch the Edmonton Oilers in the first round to everyone's shock.
They went from an 80-point sixth place finish last year to a 92-point third place finish this season, a great turnaround that relied on a heavy youth contingent backed up by a strong veteran presence and some decent goaltending although not spectacular.
A lot of that has to do with assistant coach Jay Woodcroft, who came in this year and made waves in strengthening their power-play. That much was evident in the playoffs where they had 12 power-play goals; and he knew a thing or two about shutting down Connor McDavid as well - always helpful.
McDavid, though injured, only managed six points in six games, a minus-8 rating and gave him the worst postseason output of his career since 2020-21. He averaged 1.0 PPG this year whereas he has a career 1.52 PPG in the playoffs. Woodcroft knew what to do to limit his former captain and did so spectacularly.
He also managed to turn the league's worst power-play last year (11.7%) to 23rd this year (18.5%) which is a pretty significant jump. Meanwhile the Maple Leafs took a huge step back going from 9th last year to 15th this season. It's that kind of quick turnaround Toronto needs to get back on track.
Ken Holland knows Jay Woodcroft better than anyone which gives LA a leg up over the Maple Leafs
And he's getting a lot more attention now that the Ducks are eliminated, with the Los Angeles Kings trying to see if he's interested in leading their team, but another club who could use someone of Woodcroft's ilk is none other than the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Elliotte Friedman noted on his 32 Thoughts podcast that the Kings have scheduled an interview with Woodcroft, so if the Maple Leafs and John Chayka want to make sure they don't miss out on yet another elite head coach then they need to get on the phone.
Plus, who better to know what Woodcroft can bring than his old GM Ken Holland? Right now Holland is leading the Kings, and if he feels like his former head coach can rekindle some old magic then why wouldn't he bring a trusted face in?
Chayka would have to really start selling Woodcroft on the idea that not only can he rebuild Auston Matthews into a superstar again, but have the chance to relive his Oilers glory in a sense and work with another generational talent in Gavin McKenna.
We know that experience is not necessarily a factor for Chayka though he would be doing himself a disservice if he didn't at least try and interview Woodcroft. The former Oilers head coach has a 79-41-13 record and while his final season started off rough; nobody's really perfect - he deserves another look.
Woodcroft has unfinished business from his time with the Oilers and Toronto can offer him more firepower than the Kings
Besides, he coached Connor McDavid through some of his best seasons and maintained an incredibly potent offensive team that seemed to get a lot of help when they needed it the most.
Though Woodcroft may not exactly be the issue in Edmonton, as Kris Knoblauch's firing may lead to more questions about the makeup of the franchise as opposed to the X's and O's. He isn't a bad coach, just like Craig Berube wasn't one either; it's just sometimes time for a different voice.
Which is exactly why Woodcroft needs to be on Toronto's shortlist.
He has experience handling generational talent, can bring in a staff who can help elevate not only the superstars like Matthews, McKenna, Matthew Knies, and William Nylander but also help foster development for the young guys like Easton Cowan.
While the Kings do have some young exciting talent, the chance to coach a middle of their prime Auston Matthews, a potential game-breaker in Gavin McKenna, and all the other pieces are too tasty to pass up. If Woodcroft could get Cowan to where he was in junior? Holy smokes, he could be a top-line force for years.
Besides, there could be a world where McDavid and Woodcroft join forces yet again, though this time in the blue and white, not blue and orange though we won't know that outcome for a long while yet.
Toronto has a chance to not only bring in one of the best assistants in the game, but someone who developed Connor McDavid, and knew the exact weaknesses needed to shut him down when it mattered most.
That level of cunning adaptability is a rare trait nowadays and rebuilding the Maple Leafs into a powerhouse once again would just prove to the Oilers one thing - it was never Woodcroft who was the issue.
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