Paul Coffey stepped back from his assistant coaching role with the Edmonton Oilers in July 2025. Never really wanting to take the coaching job in the first place, he did so as a favor to owner Darryl Katz and CEO Jeff Jackson. After two seasons and two runs where the team came up just short, Coffey’s decision to go back to his previous role as an advisor to Katz makes sense.
Still, there are questions in Edmonton currently about how much his absence is impacting the current defensive structure, or lack thereof, this season. The Oilers have struggled this season and while their record is actually better than at this time last year, one insider asked, “How much was Paul Coffey holding the Oilers together?”
Frank Seravalli posed the question and then answered it himself. “I think that’s one of the things that hasn’t been talked about enough, the coaching staff changes that occurred in Edmonton, he noted.
Coffey wasn’t the only coach to leave — Glen Gulutzan took the head coaching job in Dallas with the Stars — so an argument can be made that both coaching losses have impacted the 2025-26 roster. The defense is arguably the bigger issue — or at least the more pressing one — and Coffey was known as a bit of a blue line whisperer.
Seravalli suggested, however, that Coffey wasn’t exactly whispering during his run behind the bench.
Did Coffey Butt Heads With Other Coaches?
Seravalli mentioned something that hasn’t really been out there when he noted, “I think he had butted heads at various points in time with some other members of the coaching staff, because of the hard edge that he has.” Coffey has been known to be opinionated and direct, but there have been no previous reports of him being at odds with any other coaches.
Oilers Paul Coffey coaching
Seravalli hinted that it might have been the case and potentially one of the reasons he moved on. He added, “But it’s also part of what made this Oiler defence a lot more formidable. He kept everyone on their toes because he’s someone that has that intensity to him.”
One of the critiques of the Oilers this season is that they’re not motivated. The team seems to lack energy, practically requiring a sky-is-falling scenario before they flip a switch and start playing to a level they are capable of. Seravalli noted, “It’s been way too laissez-faire for the Oilers so far to start this season. Their attention to detail, their effort, their consistency, all those things.” The NHL insider wonders if Coffey wouldn’t have let it get to the point it’s at now. “…you can’t argue with the results, because the Oilers defended much, much better previously under his control.”
Next: Analyst Names 3 Lateral or Upgrade Goalie Trades Oilers Could Make
