Would Woodcroft Consider Foegele alongside McDavid?

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Ryan Hall
September 1, 2023 (10:34)

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Every NHL coach possesses a toolbox filled with various tactics, schemes, and strategies for playing the game of hockey, all aimed at defeating their opponents every night.

At times, this entails making changes to the lines, moving players up or down to disrupt the opposition's rhythm, adjusting defensive pairings, or even promoting a player from the minor leagues who is excelling in their performance, while sidelining someone who isn't.

With the new season approaching and the Oilers' training camp on the horizon, head coach Jay Woodcroft, along with his staff, embarks on the selection process for determining the roster for game one in October and the subsequent matches in the foreseeable future of the season.

Although General Manager Ken Holland has introduced Connor Brown into the mix, and there's widespread speculation about pairing him with Connor McDavid due to their past collaboration as linemates with the Erie Otters, there's no guarantee that Brown and McDavid can replicate the chemistry they previously shared.

It has been suggested that Woodcroft should experiment with Warren Foegele, who has spent two seasons with the Oilers, alongside McDavid's wing. Foegele was acquired by the Oilers in exchange for Ethan Bear from the Carolina Hurricanes.

What lends intrigue to this notion is Foegele's impressive Fenwick percentage, standing at 58.9. This figure signifies the ratio of dangerous shots for and against.

The third-line player possesses a potent shot that has the potential to find the back of the net. When coupled with a player of McDavid's calibre, Foegele could potentially achieve a significantly higher goal tally than he has ever attained.

Undoubtedly, Woodcroft will thoroughly examine all conceivable angles to optimize his offensive impact.