Paul Maurice Coaching

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Lore & Background

Maurice joined the Florida Panthers in June 2022 after resigning from the Winnipeg Jets in December 2021. In his first season, he led the Panthers to the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals. The following year, on June 24, 2024, Maurice coached the Panthers to the team's first Stanley Cup championship, winning the series in seven games against the Edmonton Oilers. He accomplished this in his 26th season as head coach, the most seasons coached for a first-time champion. The next season, on June 17, 2025, Maurice coached the Panthers to their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship, winning the series in six games against the Edmonton Oilers in a rematch of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final. Maurice and Scotty Bowman are the only head coaches to have coached in at least 2,000 NHL games.

In Their Own Story

The 2024 Stanley Cup Final was a seven-game battle against the Edmonton Oilers. Paul Maurice, in his 26th season as head coach, guided the Panthers to their first championship in franchise history on June 24, 2024. The win made Maurice the head coach with the most seasons coached before winning his first Stanley Cup. The following year, on June 17, 2025, Maurice and the Panthers faced the Oilers again in the Stanley Cup Final. This time, the series ended in six games, giving the Panthers their second consecutive championship. Maurice became just the second head coach in NHL history, alongside Scotty Bowman, to coach in at least 2,000 NHL games.

Reader's Guide

Paul Maurice was named head coach of the Florida Panthers in June 2022. He had previously coached the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes franchise from 1995 to 2003 and again from 2008 to 2011, the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2006 to 2008, and the Winnipeg Jets from January 2014 until his resignation in December 2021. At age 43, Maurice became the youngest coach in NHL history to coach 1,000 games, reaching the milestone on November 28, 2010. He and Scotty Bowman are the only head coaches to have coached in at least 2,000 NHL games. Under Maurice, the Panthers made three consecutive appearances in the 2023, 2024 and 2025 Stanley Cup Finals, winning the championship in 2024 and 2025.

Did You Know?

• Paul Maurice is the youngest coach in NHL history to coach 1,000 games, reaching the milestone on November 28, 2010 at age 43.
• Maurice and Scotty Bowman are the only head coaches to have coached in at least 2,000 NHL games.
• Maurice coached the Panthers to their first Stanley Cup championship on June 24, 2024, in his 26th season as head coach—the most seasons coached for a first-time champion.
• The Panthers won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2024 and 2025, both times defeating the Edmonton Oilers.
• Maurice started his NHL coaching career with the Hartford Whalers at age 28, becoming the second youngest coach in NHL history behind Gary Green.