Connor McDavid delivered another dominant performance Wednesday night, leading the Edmonton Oilers to a 5-2 win over the San Jose Sharks. As Edmonton stays atop the Pacific Division and eyes another deep playoff run, the Oilers captain also took time to highlight the influence of franchise legend Paul Coffey behind the bench.
Connor McDavid Highlights Paul Coffey’s Impact on Edmonton
Coffey returned to the Oilers bench in February 2026 during the Olympic break, stepping back into a more hands-on coaching role. Since then, he has been credited with simplifying responsibilities for Edmonton’s defensemen.
After helping the Oilers reach back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals in 2024 and 2025, Coffey transitioned to a special advisor position in July 2025. But with Edmonton struggling defensively, allowing 3.33 goals per game (among the worst in the league at one point), the organization brought him back to stabilize the group.
McDavid stressed that Coffey’s value goes beyond systems or video work.
“He’s awesome. He’s an absolute legend,” McDavid said. “Just brings such a good mentality for our whole group. Pushes our D-men to be better every single night. Maybe not the video coach that some coaches are around the league, but he coaches mentality, and he does a great job doing it.”
When Coffey rejoined the staff, speculation surfaced about his relationship with head coach Kris Knoblauch. Some wondered whether the move signaled pressure on the coaching staff. Coffey quickly shut down those rumors, insisting the two work well together.
“Facts are facts, we work well together,” said Coffey. “I sometimes speak my mind, but that’s just me. I like to win. But Kris has been great. I’m here for him. I want him to do well. He’s a young guy with a great family, with a great coaching resume going forward, and I like the Oilers.”
His comments reinforced that his return was about strengthening the team, not creating tension.
McDavid Leads by Example
Connor McDavid delivered a memorable outing on Wednesday, scoring his 15th career hat trick and tallying five points in the victory. The outing pushed him to 133 points (47 goals, 86 assists) in 79 games, widening his lead in the Art Ross Trophy race.
With the performance, McDavid joined elite company in NHL history. Only Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, and Phil Esposito have recorded more seasons with 130-plus points.
McDavid now matches Marcel Dionne with three such campaigns.
The Oilers will look to carry that momentum into their next matchup against the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, with Coffey’s influence and McDavid’s brilliance continuing to drive their push toward the postseason.
