Paul Coffey's departure from Edmonton

[Normand Lacombe]

The trade of Gretzky is seen as the end of Edmonton's dynasty. However, I do wonder was the trade of Coffey to Pittsburgh in November, 1987 the first warning sign that Pocklington would not be able, or want to, pay the star players responsible for the Oilers dynasty? I know Coffey was holding out for a better contract, but was the trade more of a personal issue between Coffey and Sather? From what I know, they were feuding at the time. What was the general feelings among Oiler fans at the time of the Coffey trade?

 

[The Panther]

Heading into the 1987-88 season, the media started asking Sather questions about Coffey, who was holding out. Sather had some quotes, like (and I'm paraphrasing): "Greed has broken up a lot of great teams, and it looks like it might break up ours." So yeah, there was no love lost between Sather and Coffey after 1986 and the 1987 playoffs.

Although there was a personal issue there (after re-signing in 1986, Coffey went to the Edmonton media and said, "Sather screwed me", which made headlines and probably didn't endear him to the boss), I don't think personal problems were the source of Coffey's trade. Sather would have been happy to pay him whatever he was worth (Edmonton was paying him half what Bourque was making), but Pocklington. If Sather had had his way, Coffey would have stayed, I think.

I think the primary issue was Coffey's dissatisfaction with what he was getting paid.

I think fans were somewhat upset, naturally, but also understanding. At the time, Sather had universal respect of the fans, and it was unusual back then for players to sit out and desert the team. Once Craig Simpson arrived and look very good, people were willing to move on from Coffey.

 

[Iron Mike Sharpe]

Cheap (or broke) owners like Pocklington back then effectively had their own private versions of a salary cap. The whole Coffey affair basically came down to Peter Puck not paying Coffey anything near what he was worth. Can you imagine what an 87 Coffey would fetch on the UFA market today?

 

[The Panther]

I believe around 1986 (when he broke's Orr goals record) and 1987, Coffey was making about 350,000.... probably in Canadian dollars.

 

[Normand Lacombe]

I believe around 1986 (when he broke's Orr goals record) and 1987, Coffey was making about 350,000.... probably in Canadian dollars.

It was $325,000 Canadian.

He (Coffey) asked to be traded in September after Glen Sather, the Oilers' general manager, and Peter Pocklington, the team's owner, refused to renegotiate his contract, which has two years remaining at the Canadian money rate of $325,000 a year. The Penguins did not announce the contract terms with Coffey.

The Penguins were also interested in Andy Moog, who was also a hold out. According to then Penguins GM Eddie Johnston, Pittsburgh was to have the first shot at acquiring Moog.

At a news conference to introduce Coffey, General Manager Eddie Johnston said the Penguins will have first chance at acquiring Andy Moog, the goalie. Moog, as was Coffey, is in a contract dispute with the Oilers.

Moog is a free agent and would have to be signed by Edmonton and then traded to Pittsburgh. Moog joined the Canadian Olympic program after negotiations with the Oilers stalled. He is getting financial support from an Olympic sponsor.

Should a trade for Moog be made, the Penguins would have to provide further compensation. Johnston said Moog is not part of the Coffey trade. Moog would not be available until after the Olympics.

The Rangers, Flyers, Red Wings and Blues were the other teams reportedly in the running for Coffey. While not mentioned in the article, it was later revealed the Flyers offered a package that included Rick Tocchet, which Sather immediately rejected. The Rangers could have acquired Coffey had they been willing to surrender Tomas Sandstrom, but Phil Esposito refused.

The Philadelphia Flyers, the New York Rangers, the Detroit Red Wings and the St. Louis Blues had reportedly bid for Coffey. Too Expensive for Rangers

''They're getting Coffey but they're giving up Simpson, and that's giving up a lot, but they got a great player. I wanted him, but not for the price,'' said Phil Esposito, the Ranger general manager, who refused to trade Tomas Sandstrom, the Ranger player the Oilers were most interested in.''

Oilers Send Coffey to Penguins

 

[Hobnobs]

It was $325,000 Canadian.

He (Coffey) asked to be traded in September after Glen Sather, the Oilers' general manager, and Peter Pocklington, the team's owner, refused to renegotiate his contract, which has two years remaining at the Canadian money rate of $325,000 a year. The Penguins did not announce the contract terms with Coffey.

The Penguins were also interested in Andy Moog, who was also a hold out. According to then Penguins GM Eddie Johnston, Pittsburgh was to have the first shot at acquiring Moog.

At a news conference to introduce Coffey, General Manager Eddie Johnston said the Penguins will have first chance at acquiring Andy Moog, the goalie. Moog, as was Coffey, is in a contract dispute with the Oilers.

Moog is a free agent and would have to be signed by Edmonton and then traded to Pittsburgh. Moog joined the Canadian Olympic program after negotiations with the Oilers stalled. He is getting financial support from an Olympic sponsor.

Should a trade for Moog be made, the Penguins would have to provide further compensation. Johnston said Moog is not part of the Coffey trade. Moog would not be available until after the Olympics.

The Rangers, Flyers, Red Wings and Blues were the other teams reportedly in the running for Coffey. While not mentioned in the article, it was later revealed the Flyers offered a package that included Rick Tocchet, which Sather immediately rejected. The Rangers could have acquired Coffey had they been willing to surrender Tomas Sandstrom, but Phil Esposito refused.

The Philadelphia Flyers, the New York Rangers, the Detroit Red Wings and the St. Louis Blues had reportedly bid for Coffey. Too Expensive for Rangers

''They're getting Coffey but they're giving up Simpson, and that's giving up a lot, but they got a great player. I wanted him, but not for the price,'' said Phil Esposito, the Ranger general manager, who refused to trade Tomas Sandstrom, the Ranger player the Oilers were most interested in.''

Oilers Send Coffey to Penguins

It surprises me that Espo didnt want to give up Sandström for Coffey.

 

[Boxscore]

It surprises me that Espo didnt want to give up Sandström for Coffey.

Likewise.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

It surprises me that Espo didnt want to give up Sandström for Coffey.

Sandstrom was only 22 and coming off a 40 goal season (in only 64 games).

Espo also may have had trepidations about Coffey's game outside of the Edmonton style.

Probably wouldn't have been appealing for the best skater in the game to go from the best ice in the league to MSG's notoriously poor ice.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Funny reading that Sather turned down Tocchet for Coffey, as years later, Tocchet would be involved in a three-team trade with him ending up in Pittsburgh, Coffey in LA, and Recchi in Philly.

 

[Bring Back Bucky]

All about the money. Sports salaries were starting to rise and the kids in Edmonton were realizing that Sather wasn’t a second Dad to them. It was indeed the beginning of the end of keeping a great hockey team together.

 

[Supreme King]

A lot of it was bad blood combined with the desire for more money.

Coffey and Sather’s relationship was running its course going back to the 1985-86 season. The fact that Coffey had an abysmal post season that year didn’t help.

Coffey was insulted by Pocklington and Sather’s comments about him, such as he lacked guts and he was greedy.

Coffey spoke his mind and was vilified in the Edmonton press and was eventually shipped to Pittsburgh, a prelude to the blockbuster trade to come.

 

[The Panther]

Coffey... was vilified in the Edmonton press

Exaggeration....?

 

[Supreme King]

Exaggeration....?

Somewhat....

I always wonder what would have happened if Coffey was on the team in 1988, do they win again or falter?

 

[The Panther]

Somewhat....

I always wonder what would have happened if Coffey was on the team in 1988, do they win again or falter?

Interesting question.

The danger of Coffey would have been in the Calgary series. The Flames rattled Coffey and exposed his liabilities in the '86 series. It was a blow to his ego, and I think Calgary might have exposed him again in '88. The Flames were the highest-scoring team in the League at that point, and shutting teams down was not Coffey's strong-point.

But, as it actually was, the Oilers swept Calgary (and Craig Simpson -- Coffey's replacement -- was fine, but not a huge factor). So, you have to like their chances with or without Coffey.

 

[Big Phil]

Somewhat....

I always wonder what would have happened if Coffey was on the team in 1988, do they win again or falter?

Yes, for sure.

Okay, here is the thing I have never understood about Coffey's situation in 1987. The Oilers WON THE CUP! I mean, how angry can you be at your #1 defenseman if you just won the Cup? Yes, he was partly to blame for 1986 and offensively he didn't produce in the playoffs like 1984 or especially 1985 but even in a season where he played 59 games he still finished 5th in Norris voting. Pay the guy for crying out loud and keep your comments to yourself about him if you are Pocklington.

I never understood that, Coffey just broke an offensive record in 1986 and a year later he is replaceable? It doesn't help that Coffey still had a ton left in the tank. He was basically an elite defenseman for the next 9 years with another Norris and a couple more 100+ point years, and a Cup. Yes the Oilers won two without him, but they won a Cup without Gretzky too. They had a good core so I can see why they still won. But is the team not better with a HHOF defenseman on it? Yeah, they are, and were.

 

[The Panther]

Phil, I think everyone in the Oilers' brass wanted to keep Coffey. No one wanted him gone, including Sather.

It was entirely a money issue. Coffey refused to play after the '87 Canada Cup, so he forced Sather's hand. The Oilers were forced to trade him because he was sitting out.

Ssther likely went to Pocklington and said, "He wants to be paid the same as Bourque." And Pocklington said, "No, I've got to save money for my sausage factory."

 

[Nerowoy nora tolad]

Cheap (or broke) owners like Pocklington back then effectively had their own private versions of a salary cap. The whole Coffey affair basically came down to Peter Puck not paying Coffey anything near what he was worth. Can you imagine what an 87 Coffey would fetch on the UFA market today?

IDK I mean, I know salaries werent everything they could have been in a world where players got to truly test the open market, but think of how many revenue streams the NHL didnt have developed at that time. Gretzky in his Oilers days made what, exactly 1 Million, and by the late 90s he was making 2.8ish yearly? Thats not that crazy of a difference IMO, especially since a lot of revenue streams like fan jerseys, most of merch, national tv deals just came into existence in the late 90s.

Probably wouldn't have been appealing for the best skater in the game to go from the best ice in the league to MSG's notoriously poor ice.

So is it true that Northlands had the best ice in the league? Ive heard rumours to that effect when the place closed, and I always figured that made sense given how cold Edmonton gets in the winter.

Id love to see a thread detailing reps of the various rinks throughout the league, historical and current