NHL Insider Reveals Shocking New Information That Led to Paul Coffey's Coaching Exit

While the transition was no surprise, fans questioned why Paul Coffey, who was a part of the reason the team's defense was better, would make this move.

According to a statement by NHL insider Jason Gregor, the decision was made based on a combination of personal health, philosophy with coaching, and compatibility with the team, but he referenced that Coffey was not 'all-in' with certain players.

'Paul [Coffey] was kind of year by year. I do know that,' Gregor explained. 'His back was giving him a little bit of problems, standing on the bench all the time.'

'I think it came down to a variety of different things,' he said. 'The coach kind of wanted to have his own choice on who he wanted from the guys he worked with. I wasn't sure how 100% Coffey was all in. If you're going to be a coach, you've got to be 100% all in. I think it was kind of a multi-decision between all sides here.'

Coffey also used an old-school style of coaching

Coffey's natural-study old-school teaching style caused young defenders to grow, but as the team grew, a more formal technique may have been necessary. Gregor said the transition was mutual.

'Coffey was old school,' Gregor said. 'He didn't do a lot of video time with his defense; he did most of his coaching in-game and talked to them. He was really into the mindset of just trying to help build their confidence more than anything.'

Coffey's bench retirement is part of a broader coaching rebuild. Paul McFarland has joined the staff and will most assuredly be directing the power play. Paul McFarland, with experience in Toronto, Florida, and Seattle, is bringing an analytics mindset.

Goaltending coach Dustin Schwartz has been replaced by Peter Aubry, who has NCAA and AHL experience. Connor Allen joins the staff as skills coach, and Mark Stuart will work on the penalty kill.

Though Coffey is off the bench, he'll still have input on the direction of the team from an office role, giving important opinions regarding defense and overall strategy.