Jim Hiller and the Los Angeles Kings must begin the process of finding a new head coach for their AHL franchise, the Ontario Reign. On Thursday, it was announced by the Boston Bruins that they would be hiring Marco Sturm to be their next head coach after a successful run with the Reign.
The Kings certainly are going to do their due diligence and make sure they get the right coach that can help develop some of their younger prospects and get them ready for the NHL. However, there is one coach who not only has a connection to Hiller but also general manager Ken Holland that makes him a potential candidate.
Jay Woodcroft has the resume and connections to be the favorite as the next head coach for the Ontario Reign
Jay Woodcroft was recently the head coach of the Edmonton Oilers as he took over Dave Tippett during the 2021-22 season and remained in the role until he was fired early in the 2023-24 season. During this time, Ken Holland was the general manager of the Edmonton Oilers, so the two have that connection.
However, Holland and Hiller both know Woodcroft from much earlier in their career as he began his coaching career with the Detroit Red Wings as Video Coach from 2005 through 2008.
Woodcroft in addition to his connections and his head coaching at the NHL level, has been a head coach at the AHL level. He would serve as head coach of the Bakersfield Condors for three and a half seasons before stepping in as head coach for the Oilers midway through the 2021-22 season.
During that time, Woodcroft helped the Condors win the Pacific Division once and then a second time during the 2020-21 season in a postseason tournament that replaced the Calder Cup Playoffs.
It will be interesting to see if Woodcroft would even consider the job with the Ontario Reign but if he does, it seems like an easy choice for the Kings as to who should be the next head coach.