There is no doubt that Paul Coffey plays an important role in the daily activities of the Edmonton Oilers. Whether he actually holds a position that includes that taking staff decisions remains unclear, but he is placed in a place to act as the eyes and ears of owner Daryl Katz. It is a position that, according to an author, is potentially problematic, if not toxic.
A Hall of Fame defender, franchise legend and triple Stanley Cup champion with the team, Coffey’s presence carries weight in every hockey conversation. It is one of the reasons why he was such a successful coach, because the oilers walked to the Stanley Cup final in the past two seasons and just fails at the Florida Panthers.
But as Ryan Lotsberg from Heavyhockey.net points outThe Oilers’ “Trust in Coffey is toxic” – and the evidence is difficult to ignore.
What is really going on with Paul Coffey and the Oilers?
It is fair to say that Coffey has become Katz’s right hand. In a sense, he is the man who reports what is going on, good or bad, and keeps the owner informed.
As Lotsberg notes, Katz trusts his good friend and is in the habit of pulling Coffey closer to the team when the problems touch. He served as a skill coach in 2018. Coffey then became a special adviser and was eventually asked to take on the role of interim assistant coach during the 2023-24 season. Coffey did not want the performance, but he took it because Katz (and CEO Jeff Jackson) asked him for a favor.
Maybe not coincidentally, Coffey appears when things are not trending in the right direction. From coaching shooting to front-office revision and crushing playoff leuurstopen, when there is unrest, Coffey is often intervened in the mix.
That pattern repeats now. Suggest reports Coffey was unhappy With the decision to trade Evander Kane on the Vancouver Canucks and in the future to say more in players’ movements. It is not known whether this report is accurate, but the mere suggestion that the Oilers Coffey would give more to say because he “did not like a profession” is a disturbing rumor.
Oilers must dismiss management or have their work done
While loyalty is admirable to former stars, Coffey’s push runs to maintain an aging, injury-sensitive player with a cap hit of $ 5.125 million in contrast to the indicated goal of the team to become younger and faster.
Related: Report: Internal frustration Brewing after Oilers Evander Kane exits
The problem is not Coffey’s Passion or Hockey -IQ. It is the dynamic that creates his involvement. By turning to Coffey in moments of uncertainty, Katz undermines the authority of his general manager and CEO. That is the trust and stability that is needed to build a championship schedule. Even if Coffey offers valuable insight, the perception creates that he creates Katz’s Go-to-Fixer a shadow chain from Command-one that can promote confusion and resentment within the organization.
If Katz really believes that Coffey is the best person to steer the direction of the team, he must formalize that role instead of intervening during crises. The current setup – vague titles, unclear responsibilities and influence without accountability – is exactly the “toxic” environment that Lotsberg warns of.
The Oilers have built the schedule on Jackson and Bowman. Their task, no matter how challenging it will be to take a final competition from Stanley Cup and to make a powerhouse that can beat Florida is what they have paid millions of dollars. The oilers cannot afford leadership uncertainty or internal power struggle.
Until Katz breaks the cycle of reactionary dependence on Coffey, Edmonton risks to remain stuck in a pattern that could prevent them from winning everything.
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