Paul Coffey is expected to remain behind the Edmonton Oilers bench as an assistant coach, Postmedia’s Jim Matheson reported Tuesday.

The remainder of the coaching staff, Matheson added, is also likely to return. Coffey handled the Oilers blue line after being parachuted down from Darryl Katz’ office as an assistant, joining Glen Gulutzan, who has been with the team 2018, and Mark Stuart, who joined the team last year.

The staff were nothing short of excellent, as Coffey helped re-tool the blue line on the fly, Gulutzan continued to keep the power play successful, and Stuart turned the penalty kill unit into a significant part of the team.

Coffey reportedly spoke with Oilers CEO Jeff Jackson this past week about remaining in his role, Matheson added.

“I enjoyed it. The defence is awesome, they’re all good. Were there ups and downs in player’s games? Absolutely. As a coach you have to be there for them, good or bad. I think they enjoyed a different approach,” Coffey told Matheson.

The Oilers blue line played confident hockey under Coffey, who urged the defencemen to not shy away from making plays, and moving the puck up the ice. He also wasn’t shy about mixing up the pairings when needed, saying that communicating with the players was a key to its success.

“When crunch time comes in a game where one guy maybe isn’t playing so well, a player can’t move up because he hasn’t been playing enough. I like competition,” Coffey told Matheson. “I remember changing up the partners after our streak ended (16 straight wins) in Vegas. Everybody’s up in arms. I told the guys ‘If you’re not comfortable with this, come and talk to me.’

“This is why it’s fun. I think guys should challenge each other. I can’t stand things staying the same. You get bored. I’m interested in seeing how Cody Ceci looks with Brett Kulak or Vinny (Desharnais) looks with Darnell Nurse.”

As it stands, the only departing member of the defensive group is Desharnais, who signed a two-year, $2-millon AAV deal with the Vancouver Canucks in free agency. Philip Broberg is expected to be a regular in the lineup this season, and Coffey told Matheson about a conversation the pair had before Broberg was assigned to the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors last December.

“One day (when Broberg wasn’t going to play), I just skated around with Brobie and said ‘Let’s just talk,” Coffey said. “I told him you’re probably not going to want to hear this but as the seventh defenceman, I can’t get you into the lineup. I told him ‘You may not like it but I think going down is the right move for you. So trust me.’’’

It proved to pay off in dividends, as Broberg saw success with the Condors, stepping into the Oilers lineup late in the playoffs against Dallas, having much success against them and the Florida Panthers playing his offside on a pairing with Nurse.

Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.