NHL insider David Staples believes that the key to saving the Oilers' season and bringing them back on track lies with a familiar face: Paul Coffey. Does the Edmonton Oilers' problem have an easy solution? Some fans are left wondering if the solution isn't simply the <a href='https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/cult-of-hockey/is-there-an-obvious-solution-to-fixing-the-edmonton-oilers-bring-back-paul-coffey' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>reinstatement of the team's old assistant defensive coach</a>, the legendary Paul Coffey, according to NHL insider David Staples. What we can say with certainty is that there was a remarkable improvement in the play of almost every Oilers d-man after Coffey took over from former d-man coach David Manson in the November 2023, and there's been a marked collapse of the two-way play of the d-men without Coffey this fall. - David Staples <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/dstaples/status/1986702534216720405'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> Coffey's unexpected exit from the organization after only two seasons has never had a reason laid out by any NHL insider, with rumors ranging from his health to his chemistry with the coaching staff. The one thing that is evident, however, is that the <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/edmonton-oilers/kris-knoblauch-hints-at-possible-shake-up-involving-oilers-star-defenseman-after-loss' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Oilers' blue line has never seemed the same since his departure.</a> <h3>Oilers defensemen played with better quality with Paul Coffey behind the bench</h3> Coffey instilled quality play throughout the Oilers' defensemen, with players such as Evan Bouchard, Brett Kulak, Mattias Ekholm, and Darnell Nurse all raising their levels with Coffey's help on the bench. Coffey also brought about the importance of staying calm while on the penalty kill, encouraging the defensemen to think before making the play instead of relying on desperate ice clears, which is evident from the play quality created and suppressed by the Oilers' defensemen, currently nonexistent. However, Coffey's postseason lineups occasionally caused raised eyebrows. The consistent postseason slump from Nurse, coupled with the quest for his permanent linemate, made matters confusing. However, the regular-season play from Nurse notably improved in Coffey's second season, with Bouchard and Ekholm performing well in two-man pairings. As the games go on, and should the Oilers' losses pile up, growing calls for Coffey's return may continue to get louder.