Oilers name assistant coach Jay Woodcroft new AHL head coach

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, right, talks with assistant coach Jay Woodcroft during training camp for Team North America ahead of the World Cup of Hockey in 2016. (Graham Hughes/CP)

The Edmonton Oilers have begun to shuffle their coaching staff around by moving assistant Jay Woodcroft to the head coaching job with AHL Bakersfield.

Woodcroft has been with the Oilers since 2015 and has worked with head coach Todd McLellan since 2008 when the two were with the San Jose Sharks.

The move marks the first change to staff for the Oilers since the team missed the playoffs with a 36-40-6 record.

The Bakersfield Condors also missed the playoffs in the AHL after posting a 31-27-10 record.

The Condors have been coached by Gerry Fleming since 2015. It’s unclear for now what role, if any, he will play with the organization next season.

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