The Edmonton Oilers will be harder on themselves than the media and fans are on them.

The Edmonton Oilers are definitely in a pickle right now. Yes, it's early in the season - but a 2-6-1 record to begin the year is nothing to write home about.

Some fans are upset at Jay Woodcroft (for a multitude of reasons) but the latest one being, not playing Sam Gagner in the last two minutes of the 4-3 loss to the Dallas Stars. In his post game comments Woodcroft said that Gagner was "next man up."

Gagner would finish the game having played 13 minutes. He did just play three games in the AHL, but double hip surgery is not an easy thing to rehab from when you are 34 years old.

It's natural to feel upset that the best player in the game didn't get a shift in the last two minutes, I believe it's not a bad thing. It's wise to not overwork Gagner but at the same time, he's wearing an NHL uniform so let's play him.

Since Woodcroft started coaching the Oilers in the 2021-22 season they have 79 wins in 129 games. That's a 61% winning percentage over his entire head coaching career in the NHL. This season - after only nine games - his winning percentage is 28%.

The Oilers have nine games before American Thanksgiving. The Oilers are five points out of a Wild Card position in the Western Conference. They have a chance to right the ship today against the Nashville Predators.

Woodcroft shouldn't worry about his job. He should just worry about winning the next game. Then the next game, and the next game, and the next game.

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Oilers Coach Shouldn't Worry About His Job