Breaking news from Edmonton Oilers’ camp on Tuesday, from the Edmonton Journal‘s own Jim Matheson:
- Hall of Famer Paul Coffey, who took a test drive and became Edmonton Oilers’ defence coach when Kris Knoblauch was hired last November, will likely give it another whirl after talking things over with CEO Jeff Jackson this week… he’ll almost surely be back for a second season, or longer, returning with Glen Gulutzan, who looks after the NHL’s most dangerous power play and Mark Stuart, who handled the smothering penalty-kill that was 65-for-69 in their 25 playoff games.
While the returns of Gulutzan and Stuart were expected, that of Coffey is slightly surprising news to this observer, who fully expected him to be “one and done” in this capacity after his unexpected hire to the position a month into last season. Scuttlebutt at the time had it that incoming head coach Kris Knoblauch’s own choice as defensive assistant wasn’t available during the season, with the reasonable expectation that person might come on board this summer. But that narrative has taken a turn.
Fair to say that everybody from Jackson to Knoblauch to Coffey’s defensive charges to Oilers fans were impressed with the 63-year-old’s influence and input in his first turn behind an NHL bench. By all accounts, Coffey encouraged his group to make more plays with the puck in their own zone and to be more aggressive up ice. The players responded, from talented puckmover Evan Bouchard who took his game to another level to grinder Vincent Desharnais who ultimately took his game to Vancouver for a handsome raise.
Looking ahead, perhaps the biggest beneficiary of all this will be the young defender who spent the least amount of time working directly with Coffey last season. When the new coaching staff made the switch from a seven-man defensive unit to the industry-standard sextet, Philip Broberg found himself the odd man out. He hung around the edges of the team for a bit before getting some painful but excellent advice from Coffey himself.
- “One day (when Broberg wasn’t going to play), I just skated around with Brobie and said ‘Let’s just talk. 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,’’’ said Coffey. “I told him ‘You may not like it but I think going down is the right move for you. So trust me.’’’
Broberg had played just 2 games and barely 15 minutes of ice time in 3+ weeks under the new regime before heading to Bakersfield on Dec 07. There he would remain for the next 4½ months, soaking up all the ice time he could handle, and in all situations. Condors GM Keith Gretzky suggested to Bob Stauffer on Oilers Now that the lanky Swede sometimes played 30 or even 33 minutes some nights — even strength, powerplay, penalty kill, starting line-up, end of period, end of game, you name it. While the AHL doesn’t track ice time specifically, Broberg’s traditional “boxcar” stats of 5-33-38, +11 in 49 games speak to his performance. Indeed, he comfortably led that defence group in assists and points despite ranking fifth among them in games played.
Meanwhile, Edmonton’s regular sextet of Bouchard, Mattias Ekholm, Darnell Nurse, Cody Ceci, Brett Kulak and Desharnais remained in good health throughout the season, obviating the need to recall the 22-year-old Broberg. But once the Condors were eliminated from playoff contention in late April, he was on the next plane to Edmonton where he resumed his old role of first alternate.
He remained the odd man out until midway through the third round, when Knoblauch and Coffey made the call to insert him in the line-up ahead of Desharnais, who was struggling through an injury. Just like that, Broberg found himself in the cauldron of conference finals, lined up with Ceci against the deep and dangerous Dallas Stars. His insertion coincided with the turn of the series, with Edmonton winning the last 3 games allowing just 4 goals in the process. Broberg himself scored a massive goal in Edmonton’s 3-1 win in Game 5.
From there the young Swede remained in the line-up for the entirety of the Stanley Cup Finals, but facing the additional challenge of playing on his weak side — first with Kulak on the third pairing, then with Nurse on the second. Each time, he rose to the challenge.
In the process, the trajectory of his promising career finally took a major turn in a positive direction. That was far from a given after a regular season that saw him play the fewest NHL games of his three North American campaigns, with his lowest average ice time to boot.
Not much to see here. Basically one full NHL season over those three years, with fairly desultory totals across the board.
Compare and contrast, however, a similar data set from the postseason:
Here we see an upward trajectory in the GP and especially the ATOI columns. This past playoff run also saw an infusion of offence and a terrific +8 figure, albeit with a modicum of good fortune in that latter category. In Game 6 vs. Florida, for example, Broberg’s +3 consisted of a goal scored moments after he stepped over the boards in an on-the-fly change, then 2 more scored into the empty Florida net in the late stages. Still, he clearly wasn’t getting caved out there, and neither was his new partner Nurse who had bled goals with his previous mates Ceci and Desharnais.
How much did Paul Coffey have to do with any of this? That’s hard to pin down, but it’s a fact that Broberg enjoyed the best statistical run of NHL games of his pro career during his baptism by fire in the Conference and Stanley Cup Finals. By eye, Broberg was more involved in the transition game, not only moving the puck out of his own territory but more frequently joining the attack as well.
Broberg is an enticing player, long and lean with exceptional reach and a strong stick that he can use to advantage in all areas of the ice. Fair to say he is still putting all those elements together into a cohesive whole, but at no time has he shown more promise than in those 10 recent games in the playoff cauldron on Coffey’s watch.
His Entry Level Contract has expired, with a bridge deal expected to follow though not yet in place. One outcome is that Broberg will no longer he waiver-exempt, meaning he’s certain to be a full-time NHLer next season. It’s not a reach to envision a young player of his mobility and raw skill developing in leaps and bounds in a full season under the tutelage of Paul Coffey. It should be fun to watch.
Recently at the Cult of Hockey
STAPLES: Are the Oilers looking to hire Jason Botterill as GM? His name keeps coming up
McCURDY: Digging into the grinder line for the Oilers
LEAVINS: Oilers’ GM search — 9 Things
STAPLES: A deep and disturbing read into the controversy that led to Stan Bowman’s suspension
STAPLES: Who is the darkhorse pick for OIlers GM?
Follow me on X-Twitter @BruceMcCurdy