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Oilers’ players talk Paul Coffey’s ‘aura’ and ‘presence’ upon return to coaching staff
Edmonton OIlers Paul Coffey
Photo credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
Michael Menzies
Feb 18, 2026, 19:00 ESTUpdated: Feb 18, 2026, 19:24 EST
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As the Edmonton Oilers players returned to practice for the first time in two weeks on Wednesday, they were met beforehand with big news behind their bench. 
Paul Coffey is coming back to the bench as an assistant coach and will run the defence corps, as he did the past two seasons. Mark Stuart will remain on the bench and continue to run the Oilers’ penalty kill, confirmed Kris Knoblauch in post-practice comments. 
What will Coffey bring? Aura, says Jake Walman. 
“He’s definitely a figure behind the bench that a lot of people respect and look up to. Obviously, he’s got that, I’ll use the words aura, when you walk in the room,” said Walman. 
It wasn’t just Walman’s perspective. Multiple Oilers defencemen talked about how Coffey communicates in-game and his presence around the team, after practice on Wednesday. 
Knoblauch says he’s been talking to Coffey throughout the season and has a lot of respect for the Hall of Famer. 
“I think he can offer a lot to our group. Right now, I think we need a little jolt, a little something, to change the direction of where our team has been going,” said Knoblauch. 
“I’ve got a lot of respect for Paul in my time working with him. I didn’t know him before, but obviously I liked working with him, and thought between the two of us and those coaching staffs that we’ve had in the past, that we’ve got the most out of the guys. With him coming back, I think he’ll give us that jolt, and I think he’ll add some new perspectives.” 
Through 58 games, the Oilers have lacked consistency, with a 28-22-8 record, and the coaching staff under fire. In fact, in the Oilersnation State of the Nation poll, nearly 80 per cent of fans polled said they were not satisfied with the coaching job. 
“I’ve been talking to Paul throughout the season, throughout the summer, through stretches of good and bad throughout the year, and got his perspective on how he saw our team playing and what we need to improve on,” said Knoblauch. 
“Like I said before, where our team is at right now, we’re just okay, and we feel that we need a little something to just push us over, give us a little something.” 

‘Injection of energy’

After the Stanley Cup Final, Coffey stepped away from the bench, but remained with the organization as a special advisor. Knoblauch picked a whole new coaching staff, with Glen Gulutzan also taking the head coaching job in Dallas. 
Stuart was part of that staff and had an increased role heading into this season, along with new assistant coach Paul MacFarland. 
But with the Oilers leaking chances and goals against, and the comments from Leon Draisaitl following the loss to Calgary before the Olympic break, rumours swirled about a Coffey reunion. 
Mattias Ekholm says it’s like Coffey never left. 
“He’s always a part of things and hanging around a little bit. It’s obviously an injection of energy. Then he’s a very good communicator, and obviously, his resume speaks for itself,” said Ekholm after practice. 
“He sees the game in a way that probably not a lot of other human beings do, so that has a big value.” 
As Jack Michaels pointed out, with Coffey running the blueline, the Oilers were fifth in goals against average at 2.78. Edmonton sits 25th in the league right now at 3.29 goals against average. 
That’s a half a goal-per-game difference with largely the same group of players, save for Spencer Stastney instead of Brett Kulak. 
With that said, Jake Walman doesn’t think the players should be absolved from responsibility.
“Regardless of who’s behind the bench, coaching the D, the onus has got to be first on us and taking accountability, myself and all of us, included. There’s a lot more that we can be doing to be the championship level. There’s a lot more that needs to come from us first,” said Walman. 
“It’s not too much X’s and O’s [with Coffey]. He sees it all in his head. We don’t do too much video. We don’t really think about the past plays, but he kind of knows the ebbs and flows of the game and what each guy kind of needs.” 

‘Familiar face’

Evan Bouchard’s breakout season of 2023-24 coincided with Coffey’s addition behind the bench. Bouchard went from 40 points the season before to 82 points. 
Offensively, his numbers continue to flourish with 15 goals and 63 points in 58 games, but Bouchard knows the value Coffey brings in being around the team, especially as the play team-wide has been sluggish. 
“It’s a familiar face, which is nice for everyone. We know we’ve got to step it up in the second half of the season, so we’ll shake it up. Maybe a good thing for us,” said Bouchard. 
“It’s valuable for everyone. He’s been around for a while now, knows everyone on the back end. I think it’s helpful to bring him in, rather than someone who doesn’t really understand the dynamic.” 
In the meantime, getting away from the game was the focus for these players, as they embark on a “mini camp” and return to work. The volume of hockey, playing every other night, has taken its toll. 
“We have played so much hockey, and playing defensive hockey requires a lot of good attention to detail, a lot of between your ears, being ready and being mentally there,” said Ekholm. 
“I’m not saying that’s an excuse, and everybody goes through the same schedule, so it is what it is. But obviously, bringing him [Coffey] back, that’s the hope. I don’t think he’s going to come in and reinvent the wheel, but I do think his personality, his presence, can bring something that can help us to that end.” 

Practices continue

The Oilers will practice again on Thursday before a day off on Friday, according to Oilersnation’s Jason Gregor. They’ll skate Saturday, Sunday, and Monday as well and fly to Anaheim after Monday’s practice. 
“It’s emphasis on defensive details. We’ve been talking about that throughout the year, of how we can get better, and we made some adjustments to our systems to stress certain points of being able to protect those areas a little bit better, and pressure in different situations,” said Knoblauch. 
Edmonton returns to NHL action with a three game in four day roadtrip, against Anaheim, Los Angeles, and San Jose. 
Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and has been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, he also collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues.

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