Edmonton has relieved Head Coach Dave Tippett and Associate Coach Jim Playfair of their duties

by Press Release / EdmontonOilers.com

EDMONTON, AB – The Oilers made changes to their coaching staff on Thursday, relieving Dave Tippett and Jim Playfair of their duties and replacing them with Jay Woodcroft and Dave Manson.

Woodcroft and Manson were in their fourth season as Head Coach and Assistant Coach, respectively, of the Oilers AHL affiliate Bakersfield Condors prior to Thursday’s personnel changes. Woodcroft becomes the 17th coach in Oilers franchise history.

Under their guidance, the Condors had a 105-71-21 record during the regular season and also captured the Pacific Division playoff championship during the 2020-21 campaign. Bakersfield also captured Pacific Division regular season titles in 2019 and 2021.

Prior to taking the bench reins in Bakersfield, Woodcroft, 45, was an Assistant Coach with the Oilers for three seasons, preceded by seven seasons with the same title on the San Jose Sharks staff.

Woodcroft won a Stanley Cup in 2008 as Video Coach of the Detroit Red Wings and helped guide the Sharks to back-to-back Western Conference Final appearances in 2010 and 2011.

Manson, 55, played 1,103 career NHL regular season games and 112 career playoff games, including three seasons as a defenceman with the Oilers from 1991 to 1994. He was selected 11th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1985 NHL Draft after three WHL seasons with the Prince Albert Raiders.

Upon the conclusion of his playing career, the Prince Albert native joined the Raiders as an Assistant Coach and spent 12 seasons with the team prior to joining the Condors.

The new Oilers staff of Woodcroft, Manson, Assistant Coach Glen Gulutzan and Assistant Coach Brian Wiseman will lead the team into battle against the New York Islanders on Friday at Rogers Place.