In a surprising move, the Edmonton Oilers have fired head coach Jay Woodcroft following a string of disappointing performances. The decision comes after the team's win against the Seattle Kraken, but with a lackluster overall record of 3-9-1, the Oilers find themselves struggling in the Pacific Division.

Woodcroft, who had been with the team for three seasons, was let go due to the team's underwhelming results. Despite qualifying for the playoffs in the past two seasons, the Oilers were unable to advance beyond the Western Conference rounds, falling short of a coveted Stanley Cup.

Replacing Woodcroft as the new head coach is Kris Knoblauch, a seasoned AHL coach who previously coached the New York Rangers' affiliate team. This will mark Knoblauch's first experience leading an NHL team, but he brings with him a connection to the Oilers' star captain, Connor McDavid. Knoblauch coached McDavid during his tenure at Erie in the Ontario Hockey League, where McDavid showcased his incredible talent before being drafted as the first overall pick in 2015.

In addition to the coaching shake-up, the Oilers also made changes to their assistant coaching staff. Dave Manson has been relieved of his duties, and the team has brought in Paul Coffey, a legendary defenseman and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Coffey's notable career includes four Stanley Cup championships, three of which were won with the Oilers. He also holds the record for most goals in a single season by a defenseman, with an impressive 48 goals during the 1985-1986 season.

The decision to make these coaching changes comes as the Oilers' struggle to find consistency on the ice. This season, the team has allowed the third-most goals per game in the NHL, with an average of 3.92 goals against. The defensive struggles have put pressure on star players like McDavid, who has been held without a goal in his last 10 games, despite scoring an impressive 65 goals last season.

With a new coaching staff in place, the Oilers will hope to turn their season around and climb up the standings in the Pacific Division. Their next challenge comes in the form of a home game against the New York Islanders, where they will aim to secure a much-needed victory.

As the Oilers embark on a search for a permanent head coach, interim coach Steve Smith, a former Oilers defenseman and three-time Stanley Cup winner, will take over for Knoblauch in the AHL affiliate team in Hartford.

It remains to be seen how the coaching changes will impact the team's performance going forward, but one thing is clear - the Edmonton Oilers are determined to make a significant shift in their trajectory as they strive for success in the NHL.