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Happy birthday, Paul Coffey!

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Zach Laing
3 years ago
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to Paul Coffey, happy birthday to you.
That’s right, one of the best defencemen to ever play the game is celebrating his 59th birthday today.
Drafted by the Oilers in 6th overall in the 1980 NHL entry draft, Coffey went on to have a storied 21-year NHL career playing for nine different NHL clubs. His time in Edmonton, however, was amongst his most successful in the league.
Over the seven seasons he spent with the Oilers, he amassed 669 points in 532 games winning back-to-back Norris trophies in 1984-85 and 1985-86. Named to all-star teams in all but his first and final season in Edmonton, Coffey had amassed his three highest point totals in the NHL with Edmonton.
In 85-86, he scored 48 goals and 138 points in 79 games; in 1983-84 he scored 40 goals and 126 points in 80 games; and in 84-85, he scored 37 goals and 121 points in 80 games. He was a key part of the Oilers and helped the club with three Stanley Cups. He later won a fourth with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991.
Edmonton traded Coffey to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Nov. 24, 1987 along with Dave Hunter and Wayne Van Dorp for Craig Simpson, Dave Hannan, Moe Mantha and Chris Joseph.
He spent five years there, before stints with the Detroit Red Wings, LA Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes, Hartford Whalers, Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins.
Coffey was voted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004.
On Twitter: @zjlaing

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