Oilers coach Paul Coffey makes his decision on returning next season
The Edmonton Oilers completely turned their season around this year after a coaching change in November, and franchise legend Paul Coffey was a massive part in it.
Now according to new reports surfacing online, Paul Coffey has decided that he will not be returning as an assistant coach next year.
Hearing Coffey won't be back behind the bench
Coffey is now 63 years old and was well-retired before agreeing to coach this year's Oilers. Prior to this season Coffey had no NHL coaching experience, and even when introduced to the job, he noted how reluctant he was to join.
It's the mark of a true leader to be reluctant to have authority, and still give it your absolute best effort. Coffey's presence on the coaching staff has to have had some effect on producing the best results out of the Oilers defence in years. The offensive emergence of Evan Bouchard has had shades of Paul Coffey all over it, and now Bouchard could look to threaten some of his coach's records.
Coffey rarely spoke to the media, but when he did his messaging was incredible to hear. He brought a breadth of experience and has seen incredible success on the Oilers firsthand, which gave him a fantastic perception. Throughout the season multiple times, he stressed the fact that every player needs to be relied on - not just the stars.
If it's true that Coffey is leaving the Oilers, it will be incredibly disappointing but understandable for the team. He's already remembered as a legend for his playing career, but his brief stint in coaching in the NHL resulted in a Cup Final appearance - and that's a pretty good record to retire with.
Source: Dennis King on X
| POLL | ||
Do you think Paul Coffey had a big impact on this year's Oilers team? | ||
| Yes, for sure | 518 | 92.7 % |
| No, coaches don't do much | 29 | 5.2 % |
| See Results | 12 | 2.1 % |
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