Paul Maurice truly values what his Florida Panthers are achieving by reaching their third consecutive NHL Stanley Cup Final, once again facing the Edmonton Oilers. The experienced 58-year-old head coach has shared some words that resonate loud and clear.
Maurice, the current head coach of the Panthers, has coached in the NHL for over 30 years. He began his career as a head coach in 1995 with the Hartford Whalers at just 28 years old, becoming the second-youngest head coach in league history.
Now, years later, he is at the peak of his career, leading the Panthers toward a possible back-to-back championship while guiding stars like Matthew Tkachuk and Brad Marchand. Given the team’s potential, roster depth, and results, it’s reasonable to consider this a historic squad.
Paul Maurice’s statement about his Panthers
“I want to be really careful about not being disrespectful to the other teams I’ve coached. The team here, this is the best team I’ve ever coached. It’s not really that close,” Maurice admitted according to NHL insider Katie Engleson’s post on her X account (formerly Twitter).
Maurice’s long coaching journey
In 2022, he took over the Panthers after coaching stints with the Hurricanes and Winnipeg Jets. His tenure is historic as he’s led Florida to three straight Stanley Cup Finals in 2023, 2024, and 2025, winning the league championship in 2024.
In the 2024–25 season, Maurice’s Panthers defended their title with a 47–31–4 record. In the playoffs, they defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games, the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven, and the Carolina Hurricanes in five, advancing once again to the Stanley Cup Final.