After years of instability, can Woodcroft bring the Oilers back to the glory of the cup? - Eminetra Canada

You might recall Joe’s Shooting Club, a morning routine that became a big part of San Jose Sharks when Joe Pavelsky and his young assistant coach honed their sophisticated skills on ice before each practice. Maybe.

Soon, other veterans joined in, and the coach they called Woody gave the signature gig.

“Timing was very important to our relationship,” said Ron Wilson’s staff for the third year when he was blown away from San Jose and Todd McLellan arrived from Detroit Red Wings with a reliable right-handed Woodcroft. Pavelski, who was a professional, says. “One thing about Woody has always felt that he really cares about the player. He wanted to help you. He wanted you to have a great year. He got better for you. He was always thinking of you first. As a young player at the time and a player who wanted to be good, he had a lot of experience that I thought I could learn, so I applied. rice field.”

Veterans like Pavelsky don’t call and chat with reporters in another country on Thursday afternoon at the end of the season. But that’s how much he cares about Woodcroft. If we’re talking about him, Pavelsky wants to eat it.

When teachers face students in Round 1 of the playoffs and Kings of McClellan portrays the Woodcroft Oilers, the series features two coaches who know each other better than any of the NHL’s two coaches today. Let them fight each other.

“If someone is outcoached in the series, it’s just about taking their players to another level,” says Pavelsky. “When I had Todd, and what I heard about Woody, I can’t miss the details. Even in-game tweaks, both who are playing well and who is doing it, And have a good feel about who should be there in a particular situation. They don’t miss much. It’s a way they can challenge and react to their players. Surely attention I think it will be an interesting series to do. “

Let’s talk a little here, Pav. How do coaches “challenge players”?

You can’t be like a movie. What really happens?

“I remember Todd and Woody. [the Sharks] I would oppose Detroit how they are trying to motivate us, “he says. “The message was that it was more mental than physical.” You can skate as fast as this guy. “” You are as big as him. ” “You can shoot better than him.” Then it says, “Now you have to go do it. You have to earn it.”