Paul Maurice has been hired as the new head coach of the Florida Panthers, replacing interim coach Andrew Brunette.
Maurice, 55, stepped down from the Winnipeg Jets after 29 games this season, ending a nine-year stint with the franchise. He’s coached 1,685 regular-season NHL games, the fourth-most in NHL history, and is seventh all-time in wins with 775. He previously coached the Jets, Carolina Hurricanes, Hartford Whalers and Toronto Maple Leafs.
That experience was a key factor in his hiring in Florida, according to a source. While other coaching candidates were rumored, the Panthers zeroed in on Maurice when there was mutual interest, vetting him on everything from his player management to his on-ice tactics.
The Florida Panthers are in talks with Paul Maurice to be their next head coach, sources tell @PierreVLeBrun.
Maurice recently served as the Jets’ head coach from 2013-22, where he had a 315-224 regular-season record and a 16-23 playoff record. pic.twitter.com/BppOgjFR6l
— The Athletic NHL (@TheAthleticNHL) June 22, 2022