Coffey discusses watching Oilers in playoffs in Q&A with NHL.com

In NHL.com's Q&A feature called "Sitting Down with …" we talk to key figures in the game, gaining insight into their lives on and off the ice. Today, we feature Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman Paul Coffey.

EDMONTON -- Paul Coffey credits lessons learned in the NHL for a successful post-playing business career.

"I love the business side of it, and it all hasn't been good," Coffey said while taking in an Edmonton Oilers practice during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. "I've had my losses too, and that's how you learn. But a lot of the stuff you do in everyday life, in the business world after you retire, all comes back to sports. It all comes back to discipline, all comes back to being a good teammate, all comes back to being on time, all comes back to work ethic, fundamentals. It's all the same."

Coffey began his NHL career with the Oilers in 1980-81 and was a big part of their first three Stanley Cup championships (1984, 1985, 1987). He won the Cup a fourth time with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991. A three-time Norris Trophy winner as the top defenseman in the NHL (1985, 1986, 1995), Coffey had 1,531 points (396 goals, 1,135 assists) in 1,409 NHL games, second most by a defenseman in League history.

Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004, Coffey became owner of a car dealership in Ontario and ventured into the waste management and tech industries after his playing career. He recently was hired by Oilers owner Daryl Katz as a consultant, available to players and coaches alike for advice and feedback.

"I love it, I feel like the luckiest guy in the world," Coffey said. "Daryl has brought me in, and I get along great with Kenny (general manager Ken Holland), get along fantastic with Jay (coach Jay Woodcroft) and I know my place. But if I'm asked a question by Jay, I'll give him a direct answer of what I think. I'm never going to tell anybody what they want to hear, and if I'm wrong, I love that because I wanted to be corrected too."

As part of the Oilers staff, Coffey is enjoying Edmonton's playoff run, although he admits it's easier to play than watch.

"It's way more nervous watching," Coffey said. "Playing the game was easy, because you have an influence and hopefully can make things better. But watching the game can be horrible. But it's fun though."

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In a Q&A with NHL.com, Coffey discussed life after hockey and being back with the Oilers again, among other topics.

What do you miss most about playing?

"People always ask what's the biggest thing you miss about the game? A lot of people say the guys, but I don't, I have friends everywhere. I have guys on the golf course, guys that I hang out with in Toronto. But the one thing in this game that I always miss was the emotion, the highs and the lows. Everyday life doesn't give you that. You can be involved in business, get some wins, get some losses. The wins are definitely good and that gives you some emotion, but nothing gives you the emotion this game gives you."

How did you get into the waste management business?

"Four years ago with some buddies we started a waste management company (E360S; Environmental 360 Solutions) that I'm proud of, across the country. We just sold a majority of it to a private equity company, a trillion-dollar company out of New York called BlackRock. Built it from scratch into a $1.2 billion business, which is pretty exciting, and that's something I'm very proud of."

How much has E360S grown since you started it?

"E360S goes from Quebec to Kelowna (British Columbia) and we're looking into the [United] States right now, it's phenomenal. My partner Danny Ardellini, he's the best. … One day he came to my dock and said he wanted to get back in the garbage business and I told him I was in. I walked back to the cottage and my wife saw us down there and he was leaving in his boat. My wife asked what we were talking about, and I told her we were going into the garbage business. She asked if I was sure, and I said, 'No,' but as he was pulling away, I believed in him. It's made me a lot of money and will make me a lot more money going forward. But you bet on yourselves. He's an operator times 10, knows every aspect of the business and a great guy."

What is the name of your software company?

"Quadshift. Four of us are in it. It's SaaS-related rollup strategy. One of my partners, Dave Gurney, he's in the software industry, that's where he made his money. He was in the waste industry as well.

"A lot of people will say that the market is crashing and business is bad, but this is an opportunity. In the software industry, the devaluations are crazy, so instead of buying companies that are 10-, 12-, 15-times earnings, now you are getting them two or three times and you're rolling them in with your platform and you're multiplying six or eight times. So it's really good. And I love it. I love to learn all that stuff."

Are you very tech savvy?

"No, absolutely not, I can't work my cell phone. But I love business, I love being with these two guys, Danny Ardellini and Dave Gurney, and it's been phenomenal.

"Danny finds this software company to buy, and Dave said he's in. Danny tells them that he wants to bring me in, and Dave asks him what kind of guy I was? Danny tells him I'm a hockey guy, but Dave told him he didn't care who I was, but what kind of guy I was. When things get tough, is he going to be in that foxhole with us? Partners are partners and that's why I love these guys and it's the same thing on the ice. Anybody can play when you're winning, everybody has a good time when you're winning. It's when you're lose, that's when you can tell who you're with.

"Dave didn't care how many (championship) rings I had, he wanted to know if I was like them. It's been fun."

Is coaching in the NHL something you would want to do?

"No, that ship has sailed. I'm 61 years old. I did what I wanted to do. When I retired I wanted to raise my kids, I have a 27-year-old daughter and two boys, 25 and 20. I coached them all the way up, I loved them, I loved every second of it and that's why I feel very fortunate that Daryl, our owner, has given me an opportunity to come back and be with these guys. I don't take it for granted. But as for coaching? No."

How did you get back involved with the Oilers?

"Daryl called me a year and a half ago and asked me what I thought. I told him he didn't pay me enough to tell me what he wanted to hear, and he said he was listening. Unfortunately, business is business, it's nothing personal and things happen.

"I get along great with Kenny, we sorted everything out, I'm not looking for his job. A: I can't do it, I'm not qualified. Kenny's got 20 years' experience and he's not only a great general manager, but a great person. He's open, and he's great."

How important is it for heads of organizations to surround themselves with talented people?

"It makes everybody's job easier. Why wouldn't you want the best? The ones that don't are the insecure ones, and those organizations, those business, not only in hockey, but they also never get better. One of my mentors in the car business early, he always wanted to hire someone that wanted his job, in a good way. He wanted somebody smart; you don't want 'yes-men' around you. It just doesn't work."

How has the game changed since you played?

"These athletes are great. They are bigger, stronger, they're information junkies, they want information, they want film and all that stuff. We never had it, we never had this kind of coaching. It's great. But all that being said, it's still the same game. Same size rink. The good athletes want the truth, good or bad, and they're all great kids. They're fun to be around."