The Anaheim Ducks appear set to add Jay Woodcroft to their bench, pairing him with veteran head coach Joel Quenneville. It’s shaping up to be a strategic tandem: Quenneville brings decades of NHL success, while Woodcroft offers a modern, analytics-based approach. The Ducks clearly want to re-energize their rebuild by combining creativity with championship expertise
Woodcroft spent two seasons as head coach in Edmonton, driving a 79–41–13 record, playoff contention, and a Western Conference Final appearance. His recent work as an assistant with Team Canada further bolstered his reputation . Meanwhile, Quenneville, fresh off his appointment as Anaheim’s head coach in May, is assembling a new staff and clearly sees value in Woodcroft’s blend of systems and analytics .
The timing is significant. After replacing Greg Cronin in April, Anaheim confirmed Quenneville’s staff additions—including Woodcroft—as of July 1, 2025 . This move sends a message: the Ducks intend to accelerate their path toward playoff contention by aligning experience with innovation.
For Woodcroft, this marks a triumphant return to the NHL following his firing by Edmonton in November 2023 amid a 3–9–1 slump . Joining a high-profile team under a coaching icon like Quenneville is a significant promotion—essentially a re-entry onto the NHL stage with strong credentials.
The reaction from analysts has been largely positive. Observers believe the Quenneville–Woodcroft pairing addresses both structure and high-end strategy: Quenneville’s championship-winning systems complemented by Woodcroft’s player development acumen and analytic precision .
Looking ahead, the Ducks open the 2025–26 season with this coaching duo at the helm. Their success will hinge on merging leadership styles and translating it into on-ice performance—if the partnership clicks, Anaheim could emerge as a dark horse in the Western Conference
