Oilers Coaching Questions Swirl as Olympic Break Looms - Is a Change Coming?
With the Olympic break fast approaching, there’s a growing buzz in Edmonton - and no, it’s not just about medal hopes. Inside Oil Country, fans are starting to wonder if the Oilers are mulling over a shift behind the bench.
While there’s no hard evidence that head coach Kris Knoblauch is on the hot seat, there’s been chatter that the coaching staff might need a fresh voice. And when that kind of talk surfaces in Edmonton, one name tends to come up: Paul Coffey.
The Hall of Famer and franchise icon is no stranger to stepping in when called upon. Coffey has a long-standing relationship with team owner Darryl Katz, and when Katz picks up the phone, Coffey has historically answered. That connection alone is enough to fuel speculation - especially when insiders start dropping hints.
Recently, Oilers insider Bob Stauffer floated the idea that Coffey could return to help coach the defense. It’s a move that would certainly shake things up, and one that’s not entirely without precedent.
But before fans get too far ahead of themselves, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman threw some cold water on the rumors, saying he looked into it earlier this season and was told flatly: it’s not happening. According to Friedman, not everyone involved is on board with the idea - and that matters.
Let’s not forget, Coffey never really sought out a coaching career. His last stint behind the bench was more about loyalty than ambition.
He took the job as a favor, stuck around for a playoff run or two, and then slid back into his role as a special advisor to Katz - a position he seems perfectly content with. If he were to return, it would likely be under emergency circumstances, not as part of a long-term plan.
But there’s another layer here, and it’s a tricky one: the dynamic between Coffey and Knoblauch. These two aren’t exactly in sync, and bringing Coffey in midseason could send the wrong message.
It would look less like a strategic addition and more like a supervisory move - the kind that can undermine a head coach’s authority. And for all the Oilers’ inconsistency this season, Knoblauch has, by and large, kept things steady since stepping in.
Still, fans are parsing every word from insiders like Friedman, especially his phrasing. He said he was told earlier in the season that Coffey wasn’t returning - but that leaves room for the situation to evolve. And let’s be honest, things have changed.
The Oilers are deep into the season and still haven’t found their rhythm. The team’s identity - once built around high-octane offense and a top-heavy core - looks muddled.
And now, frustration is starting to bubble to the surface. Leon Draisaitl recently voiced his displeasure, not just with the team’s play, but with the coaching staff too.
That kind of public frustration from a leader in the locker room doesn’t go unnoticed.
So where does that leave the Oilers? At a crossroads, it seems.
The front office has to decide whether this group needs a new voice - someone to jolt the roster into form - or whether staying the course is still the best option. The idea of Coffey returning might feel like déjà vu, but it also comes with baggage.
The last time didn’t end in a Cup, and there’s no guarantee a second run would go any differently.
For now, the Oilers remain in wait-and-see mode. But with the Olympic break offering a natural pause in the schedule, don’t be surprised if decisions - or at least serious conversations - start to happen behind closed doors.
Whether that includes Coffey or not remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the pressure in Edmonton isn’t going anywhere.