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Paul Coffey is being introduced as the new Skills Development coach today.
Coffey hired as skills development coach. This isn’t about an immediate fix for the PP, or the PK or turning this season around, it’s a longer term play to better develop the talent, in particular the D in the organization.
— Ryan Rishaug (@TSNRyanRishaug) January 21, 2018
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.