February 20, 2022 by Mike Dashney

Whether it’s his attention to detail, his in-game tinkering, his change in systems, or his keen ability to deploy the team in the most effective ways possible, the Oilers are definitely feeling the Woodcroft Effect.

Is it a new coach bump? Is it that the players are putting in more effort? Is it that there is more buy-in? Is it that the role players feel more involved? Are Head Coach Jay Woodcroft and Assistant Coach Dave Manson just simply making better common sense decisions? Well, it’s probably safe to say that if the preceding questions were the answers to a multiple choice question, we’d have to add an additional ‘All of the Above’ option.

General Manager Ken Holland saw a need for our team in the off-season and filled it with some great forecheckers in Derek Ryan, Zach Hyman and Warren Foegele. We already had a few great ones in Kailer Yamamoto and Jessie Puljujarvi, and a few good ones in Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and sometimes Zack Kassian. Tyler Benson emerged. Ryan McLeod emerged. Then we added Evander Kane. I count 12 forwards that can all forecheck very well if there is mutual buy-in, and last time I remember most teams use 12 forwards.

So, why was Tippett so staunch on deploying a system that didn’t value forechecking as highly as it valued possession? Why was Tippett so stubborn about only using seven forwards, and two especially, when the team finally had four line depth? If you know the answers to either of those last two questions, then you’re smarter than me. What I do know is that I see more simplified hockey under the Woodcroft Effect.

I believe Tippett had them snake bitten and scared to shoot low percentage shots because he always said taking them produced a high risk of possession turn over. As a result, we saw an Oilers team that was forced to make perfect plays; they looked like they would only take shots if they were tap-ins or wide open. On the other hand, Woodcroft and Manson have them playing a simple dump and chase game where they use their team speed to go and separate the man from the puck and develop offense from the cycle.

It not only makes opposing defenseman have to look over their respective shoulders every shift, my eye test also tells me that more players look to be engaged in the game as a result. He’s only sending two players in deep and using a 2-1-2 forecheck. Keeping the F3 high has made a considerable difference in how well the defenseman have been supported. In the neutral zone, he’s implementing a 1-3-1, and the stance at the red line from the three seem to be making a big difference in how well we can hold up the speed of the incoming opposition breakdown.

This has resulted in the defenceman being able to make smarter and more calculated pinches. It also allows them to be able to close their gaps with more predictability. I notice the defence standing up more at the blue line and we’ve all noticed the considerable decrease in odd-man rushes against. I also notice that the goalies are playing higher in their creases as well. Whether it’s a product of Woodcroft, or just a simple shift in confidence, I like it.

I think McDavid and Draisaitl feel less pressure to carry the load, and it certainly seems like the bottom-six look more involved and engaged. The veterans are still getting their tough minutes on defence, and the other four are all getting to play a more sheltered role-share type of deployment. The key to all of this is that everyone has a role, and everyone knows their role. One of the most beautiful things about hockey is that you can’t win with just two or three superstars. You need an entire team. So far the Woodcroft era has been perfect at 5-0-0. So far the Woodcroft bump has Oilers fans swimming in new found optimism. This change sure looks to be just what this club needed.