Even with the NHL paused for the Olympic break, the Edmonton Oilers remain a hot topic. Defensive struggles have once again pushed familiar names back into the spotlight, including franchise legend Paul Coffey.
This time, the discussion has gone beyond a simple return behind the bench. One Oilers insider is openly questioning whether Coffey should come back in a much bigger role, even above head coach Kris Knoblauch.
Insider Pushes for Paul Coffey to Take Charge of Oilers
Edmonton’s problems on the back end have been hard to ignore. The Oilers are giving up 3.29 goals per game, ranking 25th in the league, while their penalty kill has slipped to 76.9 percent, good for just 26th overall. During a recent three-game skid, the cracks were especially visible, including a 7-3 blowout loss to Minnesota, a 5-2 loss to the Leafs, and a 4-3 loss to the Flames.
Those numbers have reignited talk about Paul Coffey, who stepped away from his assistant coaching role in July 2025 and transitioned into a special adviser position.
At the time, the move was framed as a role change rather than a firing, following reports of friction with Knoblauch and Coffey’s desire to reduce bench responsibilities.
Oilers insider Jason Gregor recently weighed in on the situation, offering a blunt assessment of what a Coffey return would actually mean.
“Paul Coffey probably isn’t coming back but if he comes back, you probably have to change the head coach,” Gregor said. “That’s the way I look at. Looking down the road, you know, further who know, but if the things don’t go the way the Organisation wants the next two years…”
Gregor didn’t stop there. He suggested that Coffey might ultimately be better suited to an executive role than to coaching. “I think Paul Coffey may be more of a general manager than a coach,” Gregor added. “Really smart dude. I like how he sees the game.”
Gregor acknowledged that Coffey doesn’t have a traditional GM résumé, but noted that today’s pro sports landscape is far more willing to take bold, outside-the-box chances, pointing to the NFL’s Seahawks, who hired Mike Macdonald and went on to win the Super Bowl in just his second season.
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Despite the noise, Edmonton remains second in the Pacific Division. For now, management appears content to let things breathe during the Olympic break. Edmonton will look to reset before returning to action against the Anaheim Ducks on February 25.
Whether Paul Coffey’s future in Edmonton involves a bench return, a front-office role, or nothing at all remains to be seen.
