This Florida run is not your typical fish tale, according to Panthers coach Paul Maurice.
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Paul Maurice never considered himself retired. He was good.
Here’s what that means: When Maurice stepped down as coach of the Winnipeg Jets in December 2021, it wasn’t clear if he would take another job. Some teams called. He’d listen. He’d then hang up the phone still convinced that his time would be better spent continuing to fish for walleye on Lake of the Woods, where he has a little spot.
And then the Florida Panthers called.
“Pardon the pun,” Maurice said. “I was hooked.”
This is no longer the story of a wild fisherman. For the first time in their 27-year history, the Panthers are in the NHL Final Four. They will play the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final beginning on Thursday. Their first Stanley Cup is eight wins away. And so is their coach, who owns the sixth-highest number of regular season victories in NHL history, despite never having raised the biggest silver chalice in sports history above his head.
Eric Staal of the Panthers stated, “I think he’s got a phenomenal feel for what we have in our locker room and what he needs to do to push our buttons to make us play at our best.” “I’m not the first person to think he’s an incredible coach,” I would add. We love playing for him and for each other because he is our leader. He definitely has a keen sense of what we have. And once the playoffs are over, we want to just keep creating this thing.
Staal is the only player who is qualified to discuss Maurice’s career trajectory and efficacy. Ironically, it was Maurice who served as his first coach in 2003 with Carolina. After serving as a player for nine different head coaches, he is back with Maurice at the Panthers, where they will face the Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup Final to determine which team will represent the East.