The Edmonton Oilers have fired head coach Dave Tippett, according to an announcement from the team. In coordination with the move, the Oilers will name Jay Woodcroft, who was the head coach of the AHL's Bakersfield Condors, as the team's head coach on an interim basis.
The Oilers also fired assistant coach Jim Playfair, who was Edmonton's associate coach under Tippett and had been with him since their time with the Arizona Coyotes. Playfair is being replaced by Dave Manson, who served as an assistant coach with Bakersfield under Woodcroft.
Woodcroft previously served as a video coach with the Detroit Red Wings and was an assistant coach under Todd McLellan with the Oilers and San Jose Sharks.
In May 2019, Tippett was hired by the Oilers as the team's head coach after previously being at the helm of the Arizona Coyotes from 2009 to 2017. He accumulated a 95-62-14 in three seasons with the Oilers. Edmonton was eliminated in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the past two seasons.
Entering Thursday, the Oilers have a 23-18-3 record (49 points) and sit in fifth place in the Pacific Division. Edmonton has lost three of its last four games, including being outscored 8-1 in losses to the Vegas Golden Knights and Chicago Blackhawks.
