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Oilers Hire Paul Coffey as Skills Development Coach

Calm down, this isn’t the end of the world.

NHL: Stanley Cup Final-Pittsburgh Penguins at Nashville Predators Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Paul Coffey is being introduced as the new Skills Development coach today.

When the news of Coffey’s hiring broke yesterday there was no shortage of fit pitching over nepotism and and old boys club connections. That may still all be true, but for the moment, it looks as though it’s not an effect on the front office or roster decisions.

The Hall of Famer is going to be working on and off the ice directly with the NHL players. Oscar Klefbom, Darnell Nurse and Adam Larsson are the three who have the most to gain from this transaction.

As for Coffey’s experience, he’s done some coaching in the Greater Toronto Hockey League since retiring from the NHL. Time will tell if this hiring pays dividends, or is another hiring that doesn’t move the needle.