The Edmonton Oilers are part of an interesting discussion about Paul Coffey coming back. Coffey had worked with head coach Kris Knoblauch for two seasons before leaving just before this season started.
However, things haven’t been going well for Knoblauch since Coffey left. Aside from the team playing inconsistently, there were reports before the Olympic break that some players, like Leon Draisaitl, were not happy with their coaching.
This week, it was announced that Coffey will be back on the Oilers’ coaching staff. This is quite a surprising twist. The general belief is that Coffey and Knoblauch do not agree on many things, which is part of the reason why Knoblauch wanted Coffey to go.
On the other hand, Coffey didn’t really want to coach. He only took the assistant coach job as a favor to the Oilers’ owner, Daryl Katz. Jim Parsons from The Hockey News explored the reasons behind Coffey’s return in more detail.
Coaching bombshell in Edmonton.
The Edmonton Oilers bring back Paul Coffey just before playoffs…
Support move or successor plan for Kris Knoblauch?
With locker room tension rising, this feels bigger than an assistant hire.
Is a head coaching change coming? 🔥 #Oilers #NHL
— Great (@Great1019353) February 22, 2026
What’s particularly interesting is the timing of Coffey’s comeback. He will be back just in time for the final part of the season and the playoffs. It seems impossible for the Oilers to not make it to the playoffs this year. So, this move looks like it’s meant to get ready for the playoffs.
But what if there’s more to it? What if this is a plan for Knoblauch to leave his job in the future?
Coffey Could Be Knoblauch’s Successor in Edmonton
Part of the talk about the Oilers is that Knoblauch may have lost the support of his players. Draisaitl’s comments raised many flags about how things are going in Edmonton. Although the Olympic break paused this discussion, it will surely start again once games begin.
This situation suggests that Coffey’s return might be more about making a change rather than providing support. So, is it possible that the Oilers are considering replacing their coach right now? While this seems quite unlikely, it might be a last option if things don’t improve.
If the team doesn’t perform well when the season starts up again, the organization might act quickly. Coffey is someone the players respect and look up to.
Oilers Likely to Make Coaching Change in Offseason
The most probable time for a coaching change would be during the offseason. Unless Knoblauch has a serious problem with the team, it is unlikely there will be a change during the season now. Coffey is probably going to be a calming presence, helping to ease the tensions between unhappy players and Knoblauch’s coaches.
Even if the Oilers win the Stanley Cup this year, it seems like Knoblauch’s time is running out. Winning the Cup might relieve a lot of the tension, but there’s a good chance most of the praise would go to Coffey and not Knoblauch. That’s why Coffey probably looks like the best choice for the Oilers’ head coach position.
This talk is just rumors for now. But based on how things are going, it’s clear that Edmonton is trying to manage a crisis. There’s not much room for mistakes right now. That’s why this move feels like a final attempt to save the Oilers’ season.
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