Woodcroft gets 3-year deal after Oilers reach West final.

Jun 21, 2022, 2:16 AM | Updated: Jun 23, 2022, 8:09 am

Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft speaks at a media availability in Edmonton, Alberta, Monday, May 23, 2022. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

(Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Edmonton Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft, center, argues a call with an official during the first period of Game 2 of the team's NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs second-round series against the Calgary Flames on Friday, May 20, 2022, in Calgary, Alberta. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft speaks to players during the second period of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series game in Edmonton, Alberta, Sunday, May 22, 2022. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

Edmonton Oilers coach Jay Woodcroft watches play during the second period against the Calgary Flames in Game 2 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs second-round series Friday, May 20, 2022, in Calgary, Alberta. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — The Edmonton Oilers have given coach Jay Woodcroft a three-year contract extension for taking over the team in February and leading them to the NHL Western Conference final.

The Oilers announced the deal Tuesday in removing Woodcroft’s interim tag.

Woodcroft was named the interim coach on Feb. 10 after Dave Tippett was fired following a 7-13-3 run that had the Oilers sitting fifth in the Pacific Division.

The Oilers underwent a rapid turnaround under the 45-year-old Toronto native, winning their next five games by a combined score of 22-8.

Edmonton went 26-9-3 with Woodcroft at the helm for the final 38 games of the regular season to finish second in the division. It was the second-best record in the NHL over that span.

The Oilers defeated the Los Angeles Kings in seven games to open the playoffs, then dispatched the archrival Calgary Flames in five contests to reach the conference final for the first time since advancing to the Stanley Cup final in the 2005-06 season.

Edmonton was swept by Colorado in the conference final.

Woodcroft had been head coach of the Oilers’ AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, since 2018 before being promoted to Oilers head coach.

Prior to joining the Condors, Woodcroft served as an assistant coach with the Oilers for three seasons and the San Jose Sharks for seven seasons.

He also spent three seasons as a member of the Detroit Red Wings coaching staff (2005-08), including their 2008 Stanley Cup championship season.

Woodcroft and Oilers general manager Ken Holland were scheduled to discuss the extension in a teleconference on Wednesday.

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