Written by Ryan McAvoy
ANAHEIM, CA – The Anaheim Ducks' five-game winning streak came to an end on November 11, but their recent success has helped them climb the Pacific Division standings. They currently sit in third place, seven points behind the Vegas Golden Knights, as they continue to establish themselves as a competitive team this season. While several players have contributed to Anaheim's turnaround, one unsung figure helping shape the team's direction is veteran assistant coach Jay Woodcroft, whose experience behind the bench has played a large role in the Ducks' development.
Woodcroft is in the midst of his eleventh season as an assistant coach in the NHL and his second season with the Anaheim Ducks. Before joining the Ducks for last year’s record-breaking season, he was the head coach of the Edmonton Oilers. His emphasis on structure and puck possession has helped struggling teams become competitive adversaries.
Under his guidance, the Oilers reached their first Western Conference Finals since 2006, but were swept by the Colorado Avalanche in a 4-0 series. After being let go by the Oilers, Woodcroft spent two years outside of the NHL before being hired by Anaheim in 2025.
“Jay and I have a long history,” said Ducks’ GM Pat Verbeek. “He's really grown as a coach. He ran the power play when he was in San Jose, and had a top-ten power play when he was there.”
Woodcroft continued his success developing strong power-play units. During his time as head coach of the Oilers, he helped them reach a record-breaking power-play conversion rate of 32.4%, the highest rate in the history of Edmonton. He has carried that expertise over to Anaheim, where the Ducks drastically needed an improvement on the man advantage.
During the 2024-25 season, Anaheim had the worst power play in the NHL with an 11.8% conversion rate. With Woodcroft managing the Ducks’ new formation, they were able to bring their power-play conversion rate up to 18.6%, a substantial improvement. That appeared to be just the start for Anaheim’s man advantage. This year, they lead the NHL with a power-play conversion rate of 38.5%, the highest in the league.
This newfound success can be attributed to the complete overhaul Woodcroft brought to Anaheim’s power-play style. Rather than emphasizing static circulation and passing in hopes of opening a lane to shoot through, their new formation focuses on constant movement and quick passes in the offensive zone. This forces the defense out of their zones and creates better scoring opportunities for the Ducks.
“Our power-play is doing really well right now. Our power-play coach (Jay Woodcroft) is doing a great job of pointing things out that (opponent's) PK is struggling on and pointing them out before games,” said Cutter Gauthier after the Ducks’ victory over the Calgary Flames on November 7. “When the special teams are playing well, that wins you games. I'm very happy with how our power-play is going so far."
Woodcroft’s offensive IQ and previous experience have helped shape Anaheim’s current success. His time as both an assistant and head coach has given him a different understanding of what a team needs from its coaching staff. Stepping away from the game also gave him an opportunity to reflect on his career and approach coaching with a renewed perspective.
“Got some great advice from mentors around the league. They said you've been doing this for 20 years straight, going 100 miles an hour. It's okay to take a deep breath and really spend some quality family time. That's something I really dug into,” Woodcroft said in an April 2024 interview with Sportsnet.
He later explained that he was eager to return to the game, saying he was “eager to flex some hockey muscles and eager to be around the game a little bit more.”
Woodcroft has certainly been using that hockey muscle, as Anaheim has one of its best records in a decade after 18 games into the season. His willingness to step into a support role within the Ducks’ organization has helped Anaheim return to Stanley Cup-level contention and rise through the ranks of the Pacific Division.
