Top NHL expert Elliotte Friedman has shared that not everyone in the Oilers organization might be open to the idea of Paul Coffey coming back as a coach.
Earlier reports from Oilers insiders suggested they might bring in a new coach to help solve some problems the team is facing this year. One easy option would be to move Coffey from his role as Katz’s advisor to the coaching bench, but this may cause some disagreements.
Elliotte Friedman shares important news about the possibility of Coffey returning as the coach for the Oilers.
In his latest post on the 32 Thoughts Blog, Friedman mentioned that not everyone in the Oilers organization is in favor of Coffey coming back.
I’m not sure if he means preparing or having energy, but this has led to some local rumors that the team might put Coffey back on the bench. He brings a competitive spirit they might need. I asked about this earlier in the season and was told no. Do all the people involved really want this?
– Elliotte Friedman
It’s intriguing that Friedman would note there might be some people who don’t support the idea of Coffey returning, especially since the team had good results when he was coaching.
Several Oilers players have consistently praised him as an important part of the coaching staff and the locker room. Coffey’s experience as a former star player with multiple Stanley Cups helps him connect with the players. He encouraged the Oilers defense to take risks, and many players said it was the most enjoyable time they had playing hockey.
Coffey himself might be one reason some people are hesitant about him joining the coaching staff. He was always a bit unsure about coaching and was happily retired before he joined the Oilers. There were even doubts about whether he would return for the upcoming 2024-25 season, but he eventually felt there was “unfinished business,” which makes it odd that he was willing to step back after this.
It seems that if there’s any pushback about Coffey coming back, it could be from Coach Knoblauch. Coffey has a strong personality that can take control of the locker room, and maybe that doesn’t align with the way Knoblauch wants to lead. There were reports that Coffey had some disagreements with the rest of the coaching staff.
In the end, the choice might not be up to Knoblauch. If the Oilers continue to struggle, a change will have to happen with the coaching staff – and bringing in Coffey is the simplest solution.
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