Paul Coffey Norris Trophy (1986)

Lore & Background

Coffey was drafted sixth overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1980 NHL entry draft. In the 1981–82 season he scored 89 points and was named a second-team NHL All-Star. In the Oilers' first Stanley Cup-winning season, 1983–84, he became only the second defenceman in NHL history to score 40 goals in a season, and added 86 assists to finish second in point scoring. He won his first James Norris Memorial Trophy in 1984–85 while posting 37 goals and 121 points. On December 26, 1984, in a game against the Calgary Flames, Coffey scored four goals in one game, a feat later matched by other defencemen later in the 20th century (e.g., Gary Suter in 1995). Coffey went on to post a historic post-season in the 1985 playoffs, setting records for most goals (12), assists (25), and points (37) in one playoff year by a defenceman on the way to another Stanley Cup. In the 1985–86 season, where he was awarded his second Norris Trophy, Coffey scored 48 goals, which broke Bobby Orr's record for regular season goals by a defenceman (46 goals in 1974–75), and Coffey's 138 regular season points was second only to Orr (139 points in 1970–71) among defencemen. Coffey helped Edmonton to a third Cup in 1986–87, but the deciding game seven of that year's Stanley Cup Final against the Philadelphia Flyers would be his last in an Oiler uniform. Coffey had two years remaining on a contract that paid him a reported $320,000 a year, but held out at the beginning of the 1987–88 season, wanting the contract renegotiated to pay him $800,000 a year. Team owner Peter Pocklington refused to do so, and offended Coffey by suggesting he lacked courage when playing; Coffey vowed never to put on an Edmonton uniform again and demanded a trade. On November 24, 1987, the Oilers traded Coffey, along with Dave Hunter and Wayne Van Dorp, to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Craig Simpson, Dave Hannan, Moe Mantha, and Chris Joseph.

In Their Own Story

The arena lights hummed over the Northlands Coliseum ice as Paul Coffey skated back up the blue line, the puck tucked tightly against his stick. The crowd roared, sensing another attack was imminent. He didn't retreat; instead, he accelerated, weaving through defenders with a mix of grace and aggression. With a flick of his wrist from 60 feet out, the shot rocketed past the goalie, sealing another point for the Oilers. In that moment, holding the Norris Trophy in his mind's eye before it was even awarded, Coffey proved that defensemen could be the stars.

Reader's Guide

Coffey played for the Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers, Philadelphia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, and Boston Bruins. He is a four-time Stanley Cup champion, winning three times with Edmonton and a fourth with Pittsburgh. Coffey was born in Weston, Ontario, and grew up in Malton, Ontario. The city of Mississauga renamed Malton Arena to Paul Coffey Arena and Wildwood Park to Paul Coffey Park in a ceremony on September 23, 2016. In 2017, Coffey was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in history.

Did You Know?

• Paul Coffey won the Norris Trophy in 1985, 1986, and 1995.
• He is the only defenceman to have scored 40 goals more than once, doing so in 1983–84 and 1985–86.
• Coffey holds the record for most goals by a defenceman in one season (48 in 1985–86).
• He is one of two defencemen to score 100 points in a season more than once, doing it five times.