Category Archives: Hockey News

Chiarelli: Coffey brings expertise to Oilers

Paul Coffey's resume speaks for itself - at least as far as Peter Chiarelli is concerned.

The former Edmonton Oilers blue-liner was hired by the club Sunday to be its new skills development coach, and while he doesn't have any experience in such a role, it's his knowledge of the game that attracted the Oilers.

"If your question is should a candidate have needed more coaching experience, I think Paul is an exception," Oilers general manager Chiarelli told reporters Sunday. "I think the way he looks at the game and he views the game is a real asset."

A key cog of the Gretzky-era Oilers, Coffey was a dynamic puck-mover who played seven seasons in Edmonton. While his career with the Oilers was relatively short, it was decorated, with three Stanley Cups and two Norris Trophies.

As skills development coach, Coffey will be tasked with working alongside the Oilers' up-and-coming players, particularly the bevy of talent on the back end.

That includes the likes of AHLers Caleb Jones and Ethan Bear, plus 2017 draft selection Dmitri Samorukov, among others.

Critics may suggest the organization is simply hiring another familiar name - ex-Oilers Wayne Gretzky, Craig MacTavish, and Kevin Lowe all have roles with the team - but Chiarelli insisted Coffey was chosen based on merit.

"I know prior to me coming in here there was talk of all of the old Oilers, but for me, this is a collaborative decision by myself and (coach) Todd (McLellan). We're not old Oilers," Chiarelli added.

"There are a lot of nuances to playing D and it's no accident that it takes D longer to mature ... I feel (Coffey) brings a level of expertise and insight into the game that will help our D and how our D play collectively."

Coffey has coached at the midget AAA and junior A levels in the Greater Toronto Hockey League and the Ontario Junior Hockey League, respectively.

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Report: Price dealt with chronic fatigue at beginning of season

The cause of Carey Price's uncharacteristically poor start to the 2017-18 season may have been pinpointed, as the all-world goaltender dealt with chronic fatigue, according to a report from TVA Sports, translated by Sportsnet's Eric Engels.

"I was always tired," Price said. "A guy who eats well and sleeps well like me isn't supposed to be tired like I was."

The constant fatigue was negatively affecting his ability to recover properly, and doctors discovered vitamin D and B12 deficiencies upon taking blood tests.

Prior to an injury suffered on Nov. 2, Price had won just three games, owning a save percentage of .877. However, since a switch to his diet and a healthy return to the net, the 30-year-old is back to normal, making saves at a 92 percent clip since Nov. 25.

"It took me three weeks to see a major difference in my energy level," Price said.

For the season, Price is 13-16-4 with a .908 save percentage and 2.96 goals-against average.

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Hockey world mourns loss of Jim Johannson

The hockey world lost an icon Sunday, as longtime USA Hockey executive Jim Johannson died unexpectedly at 53.

Players, teams, and media members alike expressed their condolences upon learning the news.

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Oilers hire Coffey as skills development coach

Paul Coffey's role with the Edmonton Oilers has been identified, as the Hall of Fame defenseman will join the club as a skills development coach, the team announced Sunday.

It was reported Saturday that Coffey was set to join his former team but in an unknown capacity.

Coffey spent seven seasons with the Oilers, winning three Stanley Cups at the peak of Edmonton's 1980s dynasty. He added a fourth ring to his collection in 1991 with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

While his NHL experience as a coach is limited in comparison to his career achievements, it's hard to imagine a better skills teacher than Coffey, who ranks second all-time in scoring among defenseman with 1,531 points in 1,409 games.

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USA Olympic GM Jim Johannson dies at 53

Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of USA hockey and general manager of the 2018 men's Olympic team, died Sunday morning.

He was 53 years old.

“We are beyond shocked and profoundly saddened,” Pat Kelleher, executive director of USA Hockey said in a statement. “As accomplished as Jim was in hockey, he was the absolute best, most humble, kind and caring person you could ever hope to meet. His impact on our sport and more importantly the people and players in our sport have been immeasurable. Our condolences go out to his entire family, but especially to his loving wife Abby and their young daughter Ellie.”

Johansson won an NCAA national title with Wisconsin in 1983, and represented the United States as a player at the 1988 and 1992 Olympics.

Upon joining USA Hockey in 2000, he worked with 10 national junior teams, and was involved in the leadership group for the 2006 and 2010 Olympic teams.

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Islanders’ Pulock becomes 8th rookie defender to score 5 points

New York Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock had himself an evening Saturday.

The 23-year-old became the eighth rookie defenseman in NHL history to record five points in a single game, according to TSN's StatsCentre.

That's based on the rookie standards put in place in 1990-91, which require rookies to be 26 or under.

He also became the first Islanders rookie defenseman to ever score five points in a game, according to Shannon Hogan of MSG Networks.

Pulock tallied one goal and four assists in the Islanders' 7-3 destruction of the Chicago Blackhawks. He's the first rookie blue-liner to achieve the five-point feat since Alexandre Picard did so for the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2007.

Saturday's effort gives Pulock 14 points on the season in 34 games.

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Report: Coffey expected to join Oilers in unspecified capacity

Another Edmonton Oilers great appears set to join the club's front office.

Hall of Fame defenseman Paul Coffey is expected to join the organization in some capacity, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie.

Coffey was in attendance for Edmonton's game against Vancouver on Sunday, and reiterated the unspecified nature of his role:

Coffey spent seven seasons with the Oilers, winning three Stanley Cups with Edmonton in the 1980s. He added another Cup to his resume with Pittsburgh in 1991, and amassed a bevy of other personal accolades that include ranking second all time in scoring by a defenseman.

This will mark his first foray into the decision-making side of the game at the NHL level.

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Karlsson not worried about being traded

It's all just noise as far as Erik Karlsson is concerned.

Trade rumors surrounding the Ottawa Senators captain have picked up this week, especially after general manager Pierre Dorion went on record Thursday stating that while the team plans to keep the two-time Norris Trophy winner for life, he would still listen to trade offers.

In fact, Dorion made sure to point out even Wayne Gretzky was traded in his prime, seemingly comparing the two players and situations despite Karlsson not fully understanding why.

"This isn't close to that," Karlsson said of the comparison, according to Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun. "I don't know why that parallel is being drawn."

As for the speculation, Karlsson insists he isn't worried about potentially being traded. For the time being, his focus remains solely on the ice.

"This isn't something I can control. I'm going to do the job I've done," said Karlsson. "I'm going to do the best I can to help this team. When the time comes to make a decision, I will make one."

In a down season, Karlsson still ranks tied for eighth in scoring among all NHL defensemen with 31 points in 39 games.

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