Winnipeg Jets hire new assistant coach Todd Woodcroft

The Manitoba Moose had a season they would like to forget. Although they had a team flooding with young talent like Nic Petan, all the Moose could muster was 3rd last in the AHL. Too make matters worse, their top point scorer, Brendan Kichton, is a defenseman, and was sidelined due to injury for part of the season, and sported a disastrous -23 plus/minus rating. Bringing the Jets American League Affiliate back to Manitoba was a big plus for the Jets, but when a team can’t stop losing, changes must be made.

After missing the post season in their first year back in action since the 2011-12, the Manitoba Moose decided they had to part ways with fan favourite, coach Keith McCambridge. One of Jets head coach Paul Maurice’s most trusted men, Pascal Vincent

is now assigned the job of progressing all the Jets young talent into NHL stars. It didn’t take long for Winnipeg’s brass to find a brainiac coach to replace Vincent for now.

Todd Woodcroft got the call. He worked as the Calgary Flames head of scouting, and professional scout for the past three seasons. His resume also includes time as video coach for the Minnesota Wild, Washington Capitals, and Internationally with Belarus the last decade. He’s also slotted to help Team Sweden at the World Cup of Hockey this September. He’s also been in the managing business, acting as the assistant general manager for the KHLs Dinamo Minsk. He was also with the Los Angeles Kings from 2009-13 as a European Scout, and won the Stanley Cup in 2012.

Todd will join head coach Paul Maurice, assistant coaches Charlie Huddy, and Jamie Kompon, goalie coach Wade Flaherty, and video coach Matt Profonataine as the Jets will push for their second playoff berth in the last three seasons