There's a moment in every struggling team's season where something has to give — a trade, a lineup shakeup, a stern closed-door meeting. For the Edmonton Oilers, that moment came in the form of a familiar name returning to the bench. Paul Coffey, one of the greatest offensive defencemen in NHL history and a two-time Stanley Cup winner with Edmonton, is back as an assistant coach, and yeah, they probably needed it. The Oilers have been soft. There's really no more diplomatic way to put it. Their defence has been porous, their structure at the back end inconsistent, and the numbers reflect exactly what fans have been watching with growing frustration all season. Edmonton is currently allowing 3.29 goals against per game, which isn't the worst in the league, but is far from the standard a team anyone should be comfortable with. For context, when Coffey was previously part of the coaching staff, that number sat at a considerably more palatable 2.78. "I have been in regular contact with Paul since last summer, and I believe we will benefit both as a team and as a staff from his return at this time," head coach Kris Knoblauch said in announcing the move. Don't Look Now, Former Oiler Back On The UFA Market [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/4b084229-5b70-44e2-9592-5f6ba93ab7ab.jpeg] Don't Look Now, Former Oiler Back On The UFA Market With Jeff Skinner's contract terminated and his clearing waivers, could the Oilers bring back their former winger for a playoff run? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/don-t-look-now-former-oiler-back-on-the-ufa-market] This wasn't a panic hire born of desperation in mid-February, or maybe it was. But it was also a relationship that had been maintained, a door left deliberately open, and ultimately a decision made when the organization felt it was the right moment to walk back through it. "I'm excited to return and work alongside Kris and the entire staff," said Coffey. "With 24 games left in the season, there is ample time to build on the many positives and build momentum for another long playoff run." Take A Breath, Oilers Fans: Matt Savoie Is Going To Be Fine [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/eab452a2-7da3-4104-b1a3-ba50d022288f.jpeg] Take A Breath, Oilers Fans: Matt Savoie Is Going To Be Fine Relax. Matt Savoie heading back to Bakersfield is not what it looks like. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/take-a-breath-oilers-fans-matt-savoie-is-going-to-be-fine] Coffey's framing this as a continuation, a chance to build on what's already there rather than tear it down and start from scratch, which is probably the right tone to strike with a veteran group that doesn't need its confidence shaken further. And there are positives to build on. The Oilers still have Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl driving one of the most dangerous offences in the league, and the team's overall talent level isn't in question. The issue has always been about the defensive end: discipline, structure, and an unwillingness to sacrifice offensively for defensive responsibility. These aren't new problems in Edmonton, but they've festered this season in a way that's made the team look weak when other teams find a rhythm against them. McDavid's Got His International Winger For The Next 10 Years [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/76092be5-6e1f-4b2a-a1fc-0ca3712bd723.jpeg] McDavid's Got His International Winger For The Next 10 Years Life's pretty good right now if you're a Team Canada fan. Or an <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers#google_vignette">Oilers</a> fan. Or even a Sharks fan, believe it or not. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/mcdavid-s-got-his-international-winger-for-the-next-10-years] Whether Coffey can fix that in 24 games is a question yet to be answered, and anyone who claims to know the answer with certainty is lying to you. Mid-season coaching changes have a mixed track record across professional hockey. Sometimes a new voice cuts through and sparks an immediate cultural shift. Other times, the same habits resurface within a few weeks. What's different here is that Coffey isn't a stranger walking into a foreign environment — he knows this organization, he knows the culture, and if the chemistry with Knoblauch and the staff is as strong as the head coach suggests, there's a reasonable foundation to work from quickly. Josh Samanski's Olympic Moment [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/9c8284ec-e170-48e3-8e03-458a85b696c2.jpeg] Josh Samanski's Olympic Moment Josh Samanski is getting a shot to play on the first line with Leon Draisaitl at the Olympics, and honestly, this could be everything for his career. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news/josh-samanski-s-olympic-moment] What the Oilers need more than anything is accountability on the back end. They need defencemen who respect their defensive-zone responsibilities without gambling unnecessarily, and who understand that, in a short playoff series, giving up 3.29 goals a night is a path to an early summer. Coffey played the game at an unmatched pace for decades and won at the highest level. If anyone can look a defenceman in the eye and explain exactly what's expected of them and why it matters, it's him. Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/] team site to never miss the latest news [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/latest-news], game-day [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/game-day] coverage, and more [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers/players]. Add us to your Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwn-DfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] favourites, and never miss a story.
