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| 1980 NHL DRAFT PICK |
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Paul Coffey
Selected in first round
No.
6 overall by Edmonton Oilers
Born June 1, 1961
 | Position:
Defense
Height: 6-0 Weight: 185
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| BEFORE THE DRAFT |
Last Team:
Kitchener (OMJHL)
Birthplace: Weston, Ontario (Canada)
Hometown:
Toronto, Ontario |
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 |
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| PRE-DRAFT
STATISTICS | | Year |
Team | League |
GP | G |
A | TP |
PIM | | 1977-78 |
North York | OPJHL |
50 | 14 |
33 | 47 |
64 | | |
Kingston | OMJHL |
8 | 2 |
2 | 4 |
11 | | 1978-79 |
Sault Ste. Marie | OMJHL |
68 | 17 |
72 | 89 |
103 | | 1979-80 |
Sault Ste. Marie | OMJHL |
23 | 10 |
21 | 31 |
63 | | |
Kitchener | OMJHL |
52 | 19 |
52 | 71 |
130 |
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PRE-DRAFT AWARDS AND HONORS
OMJHL All-Star Second Team: 1979-80 (Kitchener)
OMJHL All-Star
Third Team: 1978-79 (Sault Ste. Marie)
Miscellaneous: Rated in The Hockey News draft preview issue as
No. 20 prospect for the 1980 NHL draft. ... Was Sault Ste. Marie's first pick
in 1978 OMJHL midget draft. ... Played left wing for parts of his junior
career. ... Traded by Sault Ste. Marie (OMJHL) to Kitchener in exchange for
Kerry Williston, Tim Zwijack and Doug Shedden in November 1979. ... Tied for Kitchener points lead in 1979-80 despite playing only 52
games for Rangers, who finished last in the OMJHL. |
| NHL CAREER |
Debut: October 10, 1980 (Quebec at Edmonton)
Numbers: 7 (Edmonton)
(number retired); 77
(Pittsburgh); 77 (L.A.); 77 (Detroit);
77 (Hartford/Carolina); 77 (Philadelphia); 77 (Chicago);
74 (Boston)
Stanley Cup:
1984, 1985, 1987, 1991
Playing Status: Retired October 3, 2001 |
| CAREER NHL STATISTICS |
| Years | Teams |
GP | G |
A | TP |
PIM | | 1980-2000 |
EDM, PIT, LA, DET,
HA/CA, PHI, CHI, BOS | 1,409 |
396 | 1,135 |
1,531 | 1,802 |
|
| CAREER NHL PLAYOFF STATISTICS |
| Years | Teams |
GP | G |
A | TP |
PIM | | 1981-1999 |
Edmonton, Pitt., L.A.,
Detroit, Phil., Hart./Car. | 194 |
59 | 137 |
196 | 264 |
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NHL
AWARDS AND HONORS
HOCKEY HALL OF FAME:
Inducted 2004
Norris
Trophy: 1984-85, 1985-86 (Edmonton), 1995 (Detroit)
NHL All-Star First Team: 1984-85, 1985-86 (Edmonton), 1988-89
(Pittsburgh), 1995 (Detroit)
NHL All-Star Second Team: 1981-82, 1982-83, 1983-84 (Edmonton), 1989-90
(Pittsburgh)
Sporting News All-Star Second Team: 1986-87 (Edmonton)
All-Star Game: 1982,
1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 (Edmonton), 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 (Pitt.), 1993
(Detroit), 1994, 1996 (Detroit), 1997 (Philadelphia)
Stanley Cup Finals (Lost): 1983 (Edm.), 1995 (Detroit), 1997 (Phila.)
Edmonton Defenseman of Year: 1983-84, 1984-85, 1985-86
Edmonton Most Improved Player: 1980-81
NHL Records: Most goals in one season by a defenseman (48 for Edmonton in
1985-86), most career playoff points by a defenseman (196), most career
playoff goals by a defenseman (59), most points in one game by a defenseman (8 for Edmonton vs. Detroit
on March 14, 1986, shares record), most assists in one game by a defenseman (6
for Edmonton vs. Detroit on March 14, 1986, shares record), most points in one playoff year by a
defenseman (37 for Edmonton in 1985), most goals in one playoff year by a
defenseman (12 for Edmonton in 1985), most assists in one playoff year by a
defenseman (25 for Edmonton in 1985), most points by a defenseman in one
playoff game (6 for Edmonton vs. Chicago on May 14, 1985), most assists by a
defenseman in one playoff game (5 for Edmonton vs. Chicago on May 14, 1985,
shares record), most assists by a
defenseman in one period of one playoff game (3 for Edmonton vs. Chicago on
May 14, 1985, shares record and for Philadelphia vs. Buffalo on May 7, 1997), most consecutive games by a defenseman
with at least one point (28 for Edmonton from Nov. 17, 1985, to Jan. 25,
1986), most consecutive games by a defenseman with at least one assist (17 for
Edmonton from Nov. 17, 1985, to Dec. 22, 1985)
Edmonton Records: Most
career points by a defenseman (669), most career goals by a defenseman (209),
most career assists by a defenseman (460), most
points in one season by a defenseman (138 in 1985-86), most career playoff
points by a defenseman (103), most career playoff goals by a defenseman (36),
most career playoff assists by a defenseman (67), most career playoff
power-play goals by a defenseman (11), most career playoff shorthanded goals
by a defenseman (3), most career playoff game-winning goals by a defenseman
(6), most goals in one season by a defenseman (48 for Edmonton in
1985-86), most assists in one season by a defenseman (90 in 1985-86), most
career power-play goals by a defenseman (69), most career hat tricks by a
defenseman (4), most career shorthanded goals by a defenseman (15), most points in one game by a defenseman (8 vs. Detroit on March 14,
1986), most goals in one game by a defenseman (4 vs. Calgary on Dec. 26,
1984), most assists in one game by a defenseman (6 vs. Detroit on March 14,
1986), most points in one playoff year by a defenseman (37 in
1985), most goals in one playoff year by a defenseman (12 in 1985), most
assists in one playoff year by a defenseman (25 in 1985), most points by a
defenseman in one playoff game (6 vs. Chicago on May 14, 1985), most assists
by a defenseman in one playoff game (5 vs. Chicago on May 14, 1985), most assists
by a defenseman in one period of one playoff game (3 vs. Chicago on May 14,
1985, shares record), most consecutive games by a defenseman with at
least one point (28 from Nov. 17, 1985, to Jan. 25, 1986), most consecutive
games with at least one assist (17 from Nov. 27, 1985, to Dec. 22, 1985,
shares record), most consecutive
games by a defenseman with at least one assist (17 from Nov. 17, 1985, to Dec.
22, 1985), most points by a rookie defenseman (32 in 1980-81), most goals by a
rookie defenseman (9 in 1980-81), most assists by a rookie defenseman (23 in
1980-81), fastest two assists by one player in a playoff game (15 seconds vs.
Philadelphia on May 25, 1985)
Pittsburgh Records: Most career points
by a defenseman (440), most career goals by a defenseman (108), most career
assists by a defenseman (332), most points in one season by a defenseman (113
in 1988-89), most goals in one season by a defenseman (30 in 1988-89), most
assists in one season by a defenseman (83 in 1988-89), most shots on goal in
one season by a defenseman (342 in 1988-89), most power-play points by a
defenseman in one season (64 in 1988-89), most power-play assists by a
defenseman in one season (53 in 1988-89), most shorthanded goals by a
defenseman in one season (2 in 1987-88, shares record), most game-winning goals in one
season by a defenseman (3 in 1990-91, shares record), most assists in a
playoff game (4 vs. Washington on April 19, 1991, shares record), most assists
in one period of a playoff game (3 vs. Washington on April 19, 1991, shares
record)
Los Angeles Records: Most points by a defenseman in one
playoff game (4 vs. Edmonton on April 20, 1992), most goals by a defenseman in
one playoff game (2 vs. Edmonton on April 20, 1992, shares record), most goals
by a defenseman in one playoff year (4 in 1992, shares record), most goals by
a defenseman in one playoff series (4 vs. Edmonton in 1992), most power-play
goals in one period of one playoff game (2 in first period vs. Edmonton on
April 20, 1992, shares record)
Detroit Records: Most points by a
defenseman in one season (77 in 1993-94), most assists by a defenseman in one
season (63 in 1993-94), most goals by a defenseman in one playoff year (6 in
1995, shares record)
Philadelphia Records: Most assists in one
period of one playoff game (3 in first period vs. Buffalo on May 7, 1997,
shares record), most assists by a defenseman in one period of one playoff game
(3 in first period vs. Buffalo on May 7, 1997, shares record)
100-Point Seasons: 1983-84 (Edm.) (126), 1984-85 (Edm.) (121), 1985-86 (Edm.)
(138), 1988-89 (Pitt.) (113), 1989-90 (Pitt.) (103)
NHL Shorthanded Goals Leader: 1985-86 (9 SHG)
Pittsburgh Playoffs Assists Leader: 1989 (13)
Los Angeles
Playoffs Points Leader: 1992 (7, tie)
Los Angeles Playoffs Goals
Leader: 1992 (4)
Detroit Points Leader: 1995 (58)
Detroit
Assists Leader: 1995 (44)
Detroit Playoffs Points Leader: 1993
(11)
Detroit Playoffs Assists Leader: 1993 (9)
Coaching
Career: Named Phoenix special-teams consultant on Sept. 24, 2002, and
remained in that position through 2002-03 season.
Miscellaneous: Ranked by The Hockey News in 1997 as the 28th
greatest NHL player of all time. ... Hampered by groin injury during
Edmonton's 1980 training camp. ... Set Edmonton
single-season records (since broken) for points (89), goals (29) and assists
(60) by a defenseman in 1981-82. ... Led all NHL defensemen with 89 points in
1981-82. ... Recorded first NHL hat trick for Edmonton vs. Minnesota on Dec.
11, 1982. ... Set Edmonton single-season records (since broken) for points
(96) and assists (67) by a defenseman in 1982-83. ... Led all NHL defensemen
with 96 points in 1982-83. ... Tied Edmonton single-season record for goals by
a defenseman with 29 in 1982-83. ... Became only third defenseman in NHL
history to score 100 points in a season when he achieved feat in 1983-84. ...
Set Edmonton single-season records (since broken) for points (126), goals (40)
and assists (86) by a defenseman in 1983-84. ... Led all NHL defensemen with
126 points and finished second behind Wayne Gretzky among 1983-84 points
leaders. ... Was runner-up to Rod Langway for 1983-84 Norris Trophy. ... Led all NHL defensemen with 121 points and a plus-55 rating in
1984-85. ... Led all defensemen in voting for 1984-85 NHL All-Star first team.
... Broke Bobby Orr's NHL record for goals in one season by a defenseman when
he scored his 47th goal of the 1985-86 season during Edmonton's April 2, 1986,
game vs. Vancouver. ... Tied NHL record (since broken) for most consecutive
games with at least one assist (17 for Edmonton from Nov. 27, 1985, to Dec.
22, 1985). ... Led all NHL defensemen with 138 points in 1985-86,
falling one point short of Bobby Orr's NHL record for points in one season by
a defenseman. ... Led all NHL players in voting for 1985-86 NHL All-Star first
team, receiving 294 of a possible 300 points in the balloting. ... Missed part
of 1986-87 season with back spasms, an injury suffered in December 1986. ...
Paired on defense with Charlie Huddy for Edmonton in 1986-87. ... Missed part of 1987 playoffs with sprained right shoulder, an injury suffered
during Game 2 of Edmonton's first-round playoff series vs. Los Angeles on
April 9, 1987. ... Missed part of 1987-88 season with bruised right knee, an
injury suffered during Pittsburgh's Dec. 11, 1987, game vs. N.Y. Islanders,
and with torn cartilage in right knee, an injury suffered when he collided
with referee Don Koharski during Pittsburgh's Dec. 23, 1987, game vs. New
Jersey. ... Missed part of 1988-89 season with bruised right shoulder, an
injury suffered when he was checked by Brad Marsh during Pittsburgh's Nov. 16,
1988, game at Toronto. ... Became first defenseman in Pittsburgh history to
score 100 points in a season when he achieved feat on March 20, 1989, at
Minnesota. ... Led all NHL defensemen with 113 points in 1988-89. ... Was
runner-up to Chris Chelios for 1988-89 Norris Trophy. ... Led all
NHL defensemen with 103 points in 1989-90. ... Missed parts of 1990-91 season
with back injury, suffered during Pittsburgh's Feb. 27, 1991, game at
Vancouver, and with injured hip muscle, suffered during the pre-game skate
before Pittsburgh's March 9, 1991, game at Hartford. ... Missed parts of 1991
playoffs with scratched left cornea, an injury suffered when he was hit in the
eye by Viacheslav Fetisov's stick during Game 4 of Pittsburgh's first-round
playoff series vs. New Jersey on April 9, 1991, and with broken jaw, suffered
in April 1991. ... Scored his 1,000th NHL point for Pittsburgh on Dec. 22,
1990, at N.Y. Islanders, making him first defenseman other than Denis Potvin to
achieve the feat. ... Scored his 300th NHL goal for Pittsburgh on Jan. 5,
1991, vs. New Jersey, making him first defenseman other than Denis Potvin to
achieve the feat. ... Missed parts of 1991-92 season with pulled hip muscle,
an injury suffered during Pittsburgh's Feb. 3, 1992, game vs. Detroit, with
back spasms, suffered during Los Angeles' March 3, 1992, game vs.
Philadelphia, and with broken wrist, suffered during Los Angeles' March 17,
1992, game vs. Winnipeg. ... Became NHL's all-time leader in career goals,
assists and points by a defenseman during 1991-92 season (all records since
broken). He passed Denis Potvin's records of 1,052 points and 742 assists
during Pittsburgh's Oct. 26, 1991, game vs. N.Y. Islanders. He passed Potvin's
goal record with his 311th goal during Pittsburgh's Nov. 8, 1991, game at
Winnipeg. He remained the leader in all three categories until passed by Ray
Bourque in 1999-00 (goals) and 2000-01 (points, assists). ... Scored goal in
his first game with Los Angeles, on Feb. 19, 1992, at Edmonton. ... Missed
part of 1992-93 season with groin injury, suffered during Detroit's March 18,
1993, game vs. Minnesota. ... Had two assists in first game with Detroit on
Jan. 30, 1993, at Vancouver. ... Set Detroit records (since broken) for points
(11) and assists (9) by a defenseman in one playoff year in 1993. ... Missed
part of 1993-94 season with injured groin and left knee, suffered during
Detroit's Oct. 18, 1993, game at Buffalo. ... Missed part of 1995 season with
back injury, suffered during Detroit's Jan. 29, 1995, game vs. Edmonton. ...
Led all NHL defensemen with 58 points in 1995. ... Became first defenseman in
Detroit history to lead team in points, when he achieved feat during
lockout-shortened 1995 season. ... Named NHL Player of Week for week ending
April 16, 1995. ... Named NHL Player of Month for April 1995. ... Set Detroit
records (since broken) for points (18) and assists (12) by a defenseman in one
playoff year in 1995. ... Passed Denis Potvin to become all-time NHL playoffs
points leader among defenseman in 1995 (record since broken). ... Missed part
of 1995-96 season with back injury, suffered during Detroit's Nov. 4, 1995,
game vs. Dallas, with sprained right thumb, an injury suffered during
Detroit's Jan. 6, 1996, game vs. Chicago, and with back spasms, suffered
during Detroit's April 7, 1996, game at Chicago. ... Initially vetoed a trade
to Hartford in October 1996 and was suspended by Detroit for doing so. He
eventually changed his mind and allowed the trade to happen. The deal, which
paved the way for the Red Wings' 1997 Stanley Cup championship, enabled
Detroit to add Brendan Shanahan and get rid of Keith Primeau, who had been
holding out for more money. ... Became first NHL defenseman to record
1,000th assists, when he achieved feat during Detroit's Dec. 13, 1995, game
vs. Chicago. ... Had three assists in first game with Philadelphia, on Dec.
19, 1996, vs. N.Y. Islanders. ... Missed parts of 1996-97 season with
injured hip flexor, suffered during Hartford's Oct. 17, 1996, game at N.Y.
Islanders, with the flu, contracted in November 1996, with groin injury,
suffered during Hartford's Nov. 29, 1996, game at Florida, with sore lower
back, an injury suffered during Hartford's Dec. 14, 1996, game vs.
Philadelphia, with bruised left quadriceps muscle, an injury suffered during
Philadelphia's Dec. 21, 1996, game vs. St. Louis, with concussion, an injury
suffered during Philadelphia's Dec. 31, 1996, game at Vancouver, with
strained hamstring, an injury suffered during Philadelphia's Feb. 4, 1997,
game vs. Buffalo, and with separated left shoulder, an injury suffered
during Philadelphia's March 25, 1997, game at New Jersey. ... Missed final
game of 1996-97 regular season and start of 1997 playoffs with twisted knee,
an injury suffered during Philadelphia's April 12, 1997, game at Montreal.
... Missed parts of 1997-98 season with strained rib muscle, an injury
suffered during Philadelphia's Jan. 11, 1998, game at Tampa Bay, and with
back spasms, an injury suffered during Philadelphia's March 16, 1998, game
vs. Toronto. ... Missed start of 1998-99 season with pinched nerve in lower
back, an injury suffered in Chicago's Sept. 25, 1998, preseason game vs.
Ottawa. ... Missed parts of 1998-99 season with pinched nerve in back, an
injury suffered during Chicago's Nov. 22, 1998, game at Anaheim, with
strained hip flexor, an injury suffered during Carolina's Feb. 20, 1999,
game at Tampa Bay, and with neck strain, an injury suffered during
Carolina's March 6, 1999, game at Florida. ... Recorded 1,500th NHL point
during Carolina's Dec. 23, 1998, game at Ottawa. ... Missed part of 1999
playoffs with strained hamstring. ... Signed two-year, $4 million contract
with Boston as unrestricted free agent on July 13, 2000. ... Missed parts of
2000-01 season with bruised shoulder, an injury suffered during Boston's
Oct. 7, 2000, game at Philadelphia, with strained hip flexor, an injury
suffered during Boston's Oct. 17, 2000, game, at Edmonton, and with
concussion, suffered during Boston's Nov. 4, 2000, game vs. Atlanta. ...
Placed on waivers by Boston on Dec. 5, 2000, and cleared waivers on Dec. 7,
2000. ... Released by Boston after team bought out his contract on Dec. 15,
2000. Despite his efforts over the next 10 months, he was unable to catch on
with another team, forcing his retirement on the opening day of the 2001-02
NHL season. He later said he made a decision to retire as early as February
2001. ... Retired with No. 2 ranking in career points (1,531), goals (396),
and assists (1,135) by a defenseman, placing behind Ray Bourque in all three
categories. ... Openly feuded with coach Scotty Bowman during his seasons in
Pittsburgh and Detroit, but mended fences with Bowman during the Penguins'
10th anniversary of the 1991 Stanley Cup title in 2001. ... Edmonton retired
Coffey's No. 7 prior to its Oct. 18, 2005, game vs. Phoenix.
Coffey's Holdout: Coffey missed
Edmonton's 1987 training camp and the start of the 1987-88 season in a bitter contract dispute with
the Oilers' front office. Although he was still under contract to Edmonton,
Coffey joined teammate Mark Messier in announcing after the Canada Cup that
they would not report to training camp until the final two years of their
contracts were renegotiated. Pushing for the renegotiation was Coffey's agent,
Gus Badali, who felt Coffey deserved to be the highest paid defenseman in the
league instead of making $325,000, only slightly more than half of the $500,000 per year that
Ray Bourque was earning. For Coffey, the holdout was about more than just
money, as he had openly feuded with Edmonton coach and general manager Glen Sather during the
1986-87 season and even remarked after the 1987 Stanley Cup-clinching victory
that he might never play for the Oilers again. When Coffey failed to show up
at Edmonton's training camp by the Sept. 23, 1987, deadline, the team
suspended him and fined him $250 for each day he missed. Coffey and Badali
took a stance that Coffey would never return to the team, but on Oct. 26,
1987, at a hotel in Toronto, the two met with Edmonton owner Peter Pocklington
in a last-ditch effort to keep Coffey on the Oilers. Coffey was initially
demanding $700,000 per year, but by the time of the meeting, he was willing to
settle for $500,000. Pocklington earlier had enraged Badali and Coffey by
questioning Coffey's courage on the phone with Badali -- saying that Coffey
had at times upset management and the fans by being afraid to go into the
corners. Despite efforts to patch things up in the Toronto hotel, Coffey could
never get past his anger at Pocklington for these comments and the
relationship continued to degenerate. Pocklington's final offer was $3 million
over six years, plus ownership of an apartment building in Edmonton. In early
November, Pocklington put this final offer on the table and then shut down all
negotiations with Coffey so that he could take a vacation in Australia. Angry
that he would not be paid for games he had already missed, and still smarting
over Pocklington's comments about him, Coffey rejected the offer. The
nightmare for both sides finally ended on Nov. 24, 1987, when Pocklington and
Sather traded Coffey to Pittsburgh, making him the first key
member of the Edmonton Oilers dynasty to leave the team. |
| NON-NHL CAREER |
Post-Draft Teams: None
NHL-USSR Rendez-vous Series: 1987
(injured, did not play)
Canada Cup: 1984
(first place), 1987 (first place), 1991 (first place)
World Cup of Hockey: 1996
(second place)
World Championships: 1990
(fourth place)
NON-NHL
AWARDS AND HONORS
Canada Cup All-Star First Team: 1984
World Cup of Hockey Assists Leader: 1996 (7 assists)
Miscellaneous: Missed 1987 NHL
Rendez-Vous series vs. Soviets due to back spasms. ... Missed end of 1990
World Championships with broken finger, an injury suffered in May 1990. ... Returned to Toronto
area after his retirement before launching his coaching career in Phoenix. ... Was active in charitable causes during playing
days, including work as honorary chairman of Canadian Mental
Health Association, Muscular Dystrophy Association of Alberta, Cystic Fibrosis
Foundation and Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Personal: Full name is Paul Douglas
Coffey. |
| HOW HE GOT AWAY |
| TRADE: Edmonton traded Coffey, Dave Hunter
and Wayne Van Dorp to Pittsburgh in exchange for Craig Simpson, Dave Hannan,
Moe Mantha and Chris Joseph on November 24, 1987. |
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|
SNAPSHOT '80 | | Total Selected: |
210 | | Forwards: |
122 | | Defense: |
71 | | Goaltenders: |
17 | | Major Junior: |
138 | | Tier II Junior: |
7 | | College Players: |
42 | | High School: |
8 |
| Canadian: |
159 |
| Euro-Canadian: |
3 | | USA Citizens: |
35 | | U.S.-Born: |
35 |
| European: |
13 |
| Reached NHL: |
132 |
| Won Stanley Cup: |
24 | | Hall of Fame: |
4 |
| All-Star Game: |
17 |
| Year-end All-Star: |
5 |
| Olympians: |
19 |
| Picks Traded: |
25 |
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