Insider reveals more info on Paul Coffey's departure, conflict with coaches
Photo credit: Bob Fried - Imagn Images
On a recent airing of Edmonton Sports Talk on TSN1260, analyst and host Tom Gazzola spoke about the likelihood of Paul Coffey returning to the Oilers' bench.
Hockey Legend at odds with coaching staff
Gazzola spoke about how Paul Coffey conflicted with whomever the Oilers head coach happened to be at the time because of Coffey's direct and no-nonsense approach.
They bring in Kris Knoblauch, they put Paul Coffey on the bench. He tells us he didn't want to do it, but because he's advising, he's on the staff, telling them, Daryl Katz, what he thinks, and not being a yes man.
I have issue with people, like, they need Paul Coffey to run the defense again. He was not running the defense; he was working with Mark Stewart. If you have a guy like that, a legend of the game around your team, he's a defense whisperer, but not on the technical side.
I have issue with people, like, they need Paul Coffey to run the defense again. He was not running the defense; he was working with Mark Stewart. If you have a guy like that, a legend of the game around your team, he's a defense whisperer, but not on the technical side.
Paul Coffey has never been an X and O guy, where he'd spend time with players going over plays and positioning. That wasn't his style. Coffey was a player's coach, one who understood that the intangibles of the game make a difference.
He demanded focus, work-ethic and intensity in every play. As Tom put it, Coffey was a defense whisperer and simply knew how to get the best from his players, something that is lacking this season.
Of course, his effectiveness behind the bench is reason for the many rumours of Paul Coffey's return as the team's defensive specialist, even if he is currently employed by Edmonton as Special Advisor to ownership and hockey operations.
For all intents and purposes, he is still around the team, as he always was; just not behind the bench. Would having him next to coach Knoblauch on game days help the team's defense?
That is a question only the players can answer. By the looks of it, all they need is to play like winners, and with more confidence.
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