BREAKING NEWS: Former Edmonton Oilers Head Coach Jay Woodcroft, Now with Anaheim Ducks, Sends Shocking Message to Kris Knoblauch Concerning Future of Oilers and Unfinished Business
By [Author Name]
July 5, 2025
In a development that has stunned the hockey world, former Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft — now at the helm of the Anaheim Ducks — has issued a public and highly emotional message directed at current Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch. The message, which was delivered via an exclusive interview aired this morning on SportsNet, sheds new light on Woodcroft’s feelings about his controversial departure from Edmonton, and makes bold statements about the franchise’s direction and his own unfinished business in the NHL.
Jay Woodcroft, who was relieved of his coaching duties by the Oilers in November 2023 following a disappointing start to the season, has kept relatively quiet about his departure. That changed today.
“Let me say this clearly,” Woodcroft began in the interview. “I never stopped believing in that group in Edmonton. We had something special. I didn’t get to finish what I started — and I think the hockey world knows that.”
Woodcroft, 47, took the Oilers to the Western Conference Finals in 2022 and helped transform the team’s structure, particularly in their defensive game. However, after a sluggish start to the 2023–24 season, and amid immense pressure from media and fans, the organization opted to make a change — replacing Woodcroft with Kris Knoblauch, a relatively untested NHL bench boss but a longtime associate of Connor McDavid.
While Knoblauch went on to guide the team to the Stanley Cup Final in 2024 — only to fall short in a heartbreaking seven-game series against the Florida Panthers — Woodcroft’s recent resurgence with the Anaheim Ducks has reignited interest in his coaching career. Under his leadership, the rebuilding Ducks have shown flashes of brilliance and are now viewed as one of the NHL’s most promising young teams.
Still, it’s clear that Woodcroft’s heart has unfinished business in Edmonton.
“I watched every Oilers game after I left,” Woodcroft said. “Not because I was bitter — but because I love those players. I helped develop many of them. I was proud of what they did under Kris. But I’d be lying if I said it didn’t sting.”
Then came the message that has ignited a firestorm across social media and sports talk shows.
“To Kris Knoblauch — congratulations on what you’ve done. You’ve earned your success. But never forget the foundation you walked into. And if we ever meet again in the playoffs, know that I’m coming with everything I’ve got. Because Edmonton still lives in me.”
This message, half tribute and half challenge, has already begun making waves across the NHL community. Some see it as a shot across the bow — a declaration that Woodcroft is far from finished and motivated to prove himself on the biggest stage. Others view it as a poignant reminder of how cutthroat the NHL coaching carousel can be, especially in a market like Edmonton where expectations run sky-high.
Knoblauch, for his part, has yet to respond publicly. Oilers General Manager Ken Holland, however, briefly addressed the comments at a press availability this afternoon.
“Jay’s a passionate guy,” Holland said. “We appreciated everything he did for this organization. He has every right to feel how he feels. But we’re focused on the future, and Kris is our coach.”
Around the league, reaction to Woodcroft’s remarks has been divided. TSN analyst and former NHL player Mike Johnson commented on-air: “This wasn’t just an emotional outburst — it was strategic. Woodcroft is positioning himself as a coach on a mission, and if the Ducks rise up under him, that message will look prophetic.”
Indeed, the Ducks — with young stars like Leo Carlsson, Mason McTavish, and Jamie Drysdale — are being talked about as potential playoff dark horses in the 2025–26 season. A playoff matchup between the Oilers and Ducks, once unthinkable, now has the makings of must-see drama.
And what about the players? Multiple sources have confirmed that several current Oilers, including veterans who played under Woodcroft, reached out to him privately after the interview aired. While none have gone on record, one insider described the messages as “supportive and grateful.”
As for Woodcroft himself, his final words in the interview captured the raw emotion still burning inside:
“I don’t hold grudges. But I do remember. And I’m not done.”
Conclusion:
Whether his words serve as motivation, warning, or simply closure, Jay Woodcroft has made one thing abundantly clear — his time in Edmonton may have ended, but his belief in what he built there has not. And if fate — or the NHL playoff bracket — should bring the Oilers and Ducks face-to-face in the near future, fans can expect a battle fueled not just by talent, but by something deeper: history, pride, and unfinished business.
