“Paul Maurice just told Joe Rose that Dmitry Kulikov and Tomas Nosek are coming out of the non-contact jersey for today’s practice,” as reported by George Richards of NHL.com.

It may take a while before Kulikov can return to the ice and Nosek can make his debut in the 2025–26 NHL campaign, but the fact that both are back practicing at full capacity is definitely a good sign.

Kulikov and Nosek may need more time

However, despite the intensity brought into the training facility by Tkachuk, Marchand, and company, it doesn’t quite equal the pace and aggressiveness of an NHL game.

Even if Kulikov and Nosek don’t wear non-contact jerseys, the rest of the team knows both are coming off long-term injuries and won’t go at full speed against them. In an NHL game, opponents won’t care about that. Thus, Paul Maurice and his staff must be completely sure Kulikov and Nosek can withstand that rhythm before sending them onto the ice.

When was Kulikov and Nosek’s last NHL game?

Tomas Nosek has yet to play a game in the 2025-26 campaign. The Czech forward underwent surgery on his knee during the summer. His last appearance for the Panthers was on Game 6 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. Needless to say, Nosek went out with a bang, but the wait has been too long, and he hopes to be back in action soon.

As for Kulikov, the veteran defenseman sustained a labrum tear in the second game of the 2025-26 regular season. The Russian blueliner underwent surgery on his shoulder and was placed on long-term injured reserve (LTIR). Four months later, he may finally be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Behind every bench of the National Hockey League sits a record shaped not only by strategy, but by timing, roster cycles and the often-thin line between patience and pressure within an organization.

League history shows that coaching longevity does not always align with success, as some tenures unfolded during rebuilds, ownership changes or prolonged periods of transition rather than contention.

Those careers leave behind numbers that tell a more complex story, where losses gradually outweigh wins and force a deeper look at context, opportunity and how coaching legacies are ultimately defined.

Which coach has more losses in the NHL?

In the long history of the league, coaching records are usually celebrated for wins and championships, but one figure stands apart for a very different milestone. Paul Maurice holds the NHL record for the most career losses by a head coach with a total of 767 until December 2025.

His coaching journey began in the mid-1990s with the Hartford Whalers and later included stints with the Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets and, more recently, the Florida Panthers.

Over the course of an extraordinarily long career, he has accumulated so many losses that his wins—more than 800—are no longer what stand out most, making him the coach with the most defeats in league history, even as he also ranks among those with a significant number of victories.

That duality highlights how context matters in NHL coaching records. His tenure across different eras and team contexts, from rebuilding clubs to playoff contenders, has produced a complex legacy: one where perseverance on the NHL sidelines has translated into both historical milestones and daunting numbers.

Top 3 NHL coaches with more losses than wins

• Milt Schmidt | 394 losses, 250 wins

If loyalty had a name in Massachusetts, it would be Milt Schmidt. However, “Mr. Bruin’s” transition from the ice to the bench was an exercise in pure stoicism. He wasn’t a poor tactician; he was simply the captain who tried to keep two ships afloat during a perfect storm: a rebuilding Bruins squad in the 1950s and, later, the disastrous birth of the Washington Capitals in the 70s.

His negative balance—ending his career 144 games below the .500 mark—is largely a byproduct of his sense of duty. While others might have jumped ship, he accepted the daunting task of coaching the Capitals during their 1974-75 inaugural season, arguably the worst year in the history of professional sports. His legacy isn’t measured in points percentage, but in the dignity with which he wore the crest while the scoreboard turned its back on him.

• Ebie Goodfellow | 91 losses, 30 wins

The story of Ebenezer “Ebie” Goodfellow serves as a cautionary tale: a legendary playing career does not always translate to success with a clipboard. After a Hall of Fame run as a defenseman in Detroit, he landed with the Chicago Blackhawks in the early 1950s—a franchise that, at the time, seemed to have forgotten the recipe for victory.

His tenure behind the bench was brief but bruising. In just two seasons, the team sank into irrelevance, winning barely a third of their contests under his guidance. He became the face of a frustrated era at the Chicago Stadium, proving that even the charisma and hockey IQ of a superstar player aren’t always enough to fix a roster lacking direction and depth.

Coming into the NHL campaign, Marchand the Panthers knew they were in for a rollercoaster of a year. If the offseason had been chaotic, the regular season would be a whole different beast.

With that in mind, the organization rolled the dice on veteran defenseman Jeff Petry. However, only 25 games into the season, the decision seems to have backfired. Petry hasn’t had the production Maurice and company expected, so he is now being taken out of the lineup.

Panthers making changes to the lineup

As reported by NHL.com’s George Richards, Petry will not be on the lineup as the Panthers gear up to host the Nashville Predators. With no injuries, setbacks, or further explanations given for the decision, all signs indicate the 37-year-old blueliner (who turns 38 on December 9th) will serve as a healthy scratch.

Donavan Sebrango will slot back into the lineup, filling the vacant spot alongside Uvis Balinskis on the third defensive pairing. The reactions all over social media indicate the fans approve of the lineup change. However, Sunrise will only be truly happy if it leads to the Cats snapping their current three-game losing streak.

Panthers must end the hex

Florida has dropped its last four home games at Amerant Bank Arena. The barn in Sunrise has seen another Stanley Cup championship banner rise to the rafters and a state-of-the-art jumbotron light up center ice for the 2025-26 campaign. However, the product on the ice has been far from meeting expectations. Though it’s still very early, the dreams of a three-peat in the NHL are beginning to feel like fantasy.

The Panthers may find a scapegoat in Petry—who has endured some very rough outings—but Marchand and the rest of the team know they hold the key to saving the season. They could go down the blaming road, pointing fingers at one another, or they can rally to get back on track. Whether that’s with Petry in or out of the lineup, all that matters is finding a way to right the ship—or better yet, the airboat in the Everglades.

Through the first forty minutes, Florida appeared poised for a different outcome. Strong puck movement, aggressive transition play, and steady forechecking allowed the Panthers to dictate tempo and build an early lead. However, the third period exposed familiar issues that have surfaced repeatedly this season — slower decisions, lost puck battles, and a costly lack of urgency against a Flyers team that refused to go away.

Addressing the media postgame, head coach Paul Maurice did not shy away from the critical moment that changed the game. “I thought we were slow with the puck [in the third period],” Maurice said via Panthers reporter Jameson Olive.

He also added: “I think they got in on some pucks. We were just late to some loose pucks that were laying around, and they maintained that control.” His assessment captured the turning point of a night that slipped out of Florida’s hands.

Panthers lose command of third period

Florida’s early control was evident when Sam Bennett drove toward the crease and connected with Brad Marchand at 5:21 of the opening frame, giving the Panthers a 1–0 lead.

The strong start carried into the second, where Carter Verhaeghe — coming off a three-point night in Nashville — finished a clean multi-pass sequence set up by Bennett’s second primary assist of the night. But Philadelphia responded with pressure of its own, beginning with Emil Andrae’s point shot that cut the lead to 2–1 and shifted momentum.

Late breakdown hands Flyers the win

The third period saw the Panthers press but fail to break through, as Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar turned aside 25 of 27 Florida shots to steady his team. The decisive moment arrived with just 44.5 seconds remaining when Tyson Foerster’s rebound attempt deflected off Aaron Ekblad’s leg before he buried the loose puck for the game-winner.

What’s next for the Panthers?

With the Thanksgiving break now behind them, the Panthers will attempt to regroup quickly as they return to home ice Friday at 4 p.m. ET to host the Calgary Flames — a chance to reset puck pressure, sharpen tempo, and regain ground in a tightening Atlantic Division race.

The Panthers (12-9-1) took care of business during their visit to the 6-12-4 Predators at Bridgestone Arena. Florida knew it couldn’t afford a misstep when facing one of the worst teams in the NHL. Marchand and company came out of the tunnel swinging, as the Cats established their dominance over the Preds.

“I think we’re finding a different way to do it,” Paul Maurice admitted, via NHL.com. “We’ve had to. So we’re a little bit more dynamic in the offensive zone than we’ve been in the past. We’re still pretty legitimate off the rush, but I think that these guys, they’re all-in. They work at it every day.”

Panthers erupt for yet another 8-goal night

In more ways than one, Maurice saw everything he hoped to witness from the Panthers. Coming into the game, the Cats had struggled to score in bunches throughout the 2025-26 NHL season—registering 2.90 goals per game.

However, Florida put up eight goals against the Preds, rising its average goal production to 3.14 tallies per outing. Nashville, on the other hand, now averages 3.68 goals against per game after conceding eight tallies for the first time this campaign.

All hands on deck for the Panthers

On another note, the Panthers had several players putting up points. After relying on Marchand’s production through large stretches of the campaign, the Cats recorded their biggest win of the season on a night Marchand logged only a secondary assist.

Moreover, the Panthers scored all their goals at even strength, proving they can blow opponents out of the water even when the man-advantage units are not firing on all cylinders. Nights like this keep hope alive in Broward County as the reigning back-to-back Stanley Cup champions aim for a three-peat.

Pivotal homestand for Marchand and Panthers

The win over Nashville is key for Florida to build momentum. However, it will all be in vain if the Cats can’t keep the good work when returning home to Sunrise. Up next, the Panthers will stay in the Sunshine State for a while, playing six straight games at Amerant Bank Arena.

• vs Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 26
• vs Calgary Flames on Nov. 28
• vs Toronto Maple Leafs on Dec. 2
• vs Nashville Predators on Dec. 4
• vs Columbus Blue Jackets on Dec. 6
• vs New York Islanders on Dec. 7

Good times seem to fade away in an eyeblink for Marchand and the Panthers in the current NHL season. Just when the Cats had strung together consecutive wins, a tough loss to the Oilers rained down on their parade. Following the defeat on home ice, Maurice didn’t sugarcoat his thoughts on the performance.

“It certainly was not a defensive struggle out there. It was a struggle at times, but not defensively,” Maurice admitted, via Jameson Olive and NHL.com. “They had the lead.

“They were able to protect a little bit and we had the chance to push a little bit hard. Shots were [13-8] for them in the first period, but we missed the net 13 times. We were in the right end and generating enough but just gave up too much.”

Panthers should be scoring more

Two things can be true. Marchand is playing some of the best hockey of his NHL career, yet the Panthers’ offense has been underwhelming. The 37-year-old came just shy of matching his career-best point streak of 13 games—he hit 11 straight this season—but the rest of the team has struggled to put the puck in the net.

According to data from MoneyPuck.com, the Panthers register the sixth-worst goals scored above expected mark in the league (minus 12.36). This means the Panthers should have scored roughly 12 more goals this season — 73 tallies, instead of their 61 goals so far in the season. Moreover, Florida has the fifth-worst shooting percentage — 4.59% — in all attempts.

Thus, the data supports and confirms what every fan at Amerant Bank Arena has seen all season long. In more ways than one, the Panthers are shooting themselves in the foot and setting themselves up for failure with their lack of efficiency.

The Panthers are resorting to Jack Devine, the former seventh-round selection in the 2022 NHL entry Draft. Though a very late pick, the 22-year-old has blossom into a key player for the AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers. Devine had spent the past years at the collegiate level, playing for the University of Denver, and hoisting two NCAA championships during his time in school.

Now, Florida looks for him to evolve into an NHL player, helping Marchand and company keep the ship afloat as the Panthers tread water along a choppy coastline in the Sunshine State.

Speaking on the youngster, Maurice voiced a very strong comment on Devine, who is trending to make his NHL career debut. “We think we got a real good one here,” Maurice told the media, as reported by @JamesonCoop on X (formerly Twitter).

Debut on the horizon

Hoping to register back-to-back victories, Marchand and the Panthers host the New Jersey Devils. As Maurice stated, Devine is set to make his NHL career debut. However, he will have to earn his minutes. As Jameson Olive reported, Devine is trending to play on the fourth line, joining the likes of Noah Gregor and Luke Kunin.

“It felt amazing,” Devine admitted on being called up per NHL.com. “It was something I’ve been working a long time for and just grateful for the opportunity to be here.”

Taking his first steps in professional hockey, Devine registered 12 points—6 goals and 6 assists—through 13 games with the Checkers in the 2025-26 AHL season. As he joins Marchand and company on Maurice’s Panthers, he hopes to find his footing in uncharted territory. Though it’s a scary leap, Devine is seemingly ready for the challenge.

Maurice’s comments come at a pivotal time for the Panthers, a team still coping with major absences and recalibrating its campaign accordingly. The veteran bench boss acknowledged the ongoing rehabilitation process and signalled optimism about Tkachuk’s imminent return to on‑ice practice.

Maurice indicated that Tkachuk should begin skating again in roughly “1.5‑2 weeks,” setting the stage for the next phase of his recovery. On his radio appearance on WQAM with Joe Rose, Maurice said the player would then require “about 10 days to determine the final window for his return to game action.” These remarks offer a more defined schedule than previous updates.

The timing of the update has particular significance for the Panthers, who are navigating their season without one of their premier forwards. As Florida works to regain full strength, Tkachuk’s return is set to become a catalyst for the team’s offensive and competitive trajectory.

What impact will Tkachuk’s return have on the Panthers?

Tkachuk’s return would restore a critical element of the Panthers’ attack and presence on the ice, especially given his role in previous campaigns and championship runs.

With his return potentially imminent, Maurice and the Panthers now turn attention to integrating him back into the lineup and the broader lineup next steps.

Aside from Marchand’s red-hot form, there haven’t been many reasons for celebrations for the fans in Sunrise. The ongoing NHL campaign has truly tested the organization’s depth and crisis management. With players going down with injuries like flies, the Panthers have had no time to relax, and that won’t be changing any time soon.

As if the injury bug hasn’t been costly enough for Florida, Maurice has now confirmed Cole Schwindt and Eetu Luostarinen will be out. The former was expected, as he left a game with an injury, but the latter came as a shock when the head coach revealed the unexpected non-hockey incident that caused his setback.

According to The Miami Herald’s Jordan McPherson, Maurice announced Luostarinen is considered week-to-week after sustaining burns during a barbeque incident. As for Schwindt, he will undergo surgery for a broken arm, and is expected to be out for 2-3 months in the NHL season.

Fortune isn’t on Marchand and the Cats’ side

With Luostarinen out for weeks, Marchand is now being directly affected by the latest setback in Sunrise. Luostarinen played a pivotal role alongside Marchand on the Panthers’ first forward line. So far, the trio of Marchand, Luostarinen, and Anton Lundell have combined for 49 points—approximately 30% of all Florida’s points in the season. With him out of the lineup, Mackie Samoskevich is filling the void.

Luostarinen and Schwindt are just new names being added to the long list of Panthers players who have gone down with injuries of any sort in the 2025-26 NHL season. The list is topped by Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, and followed by the likes of Dmitry Kulikov, Jonah Gadjovich, and Tomas Nosek. Now, Luostarinen and Schwindt will be joining.

Marchand leads the way

In the meantime, Marchand and the Panthers must hold their ground. If it’s any hope, Marchand has been playing some of the best hockey of his career, as he rides an 11-game point streak (16 points during that stretch). The 37-year-old’s best career point streak was a 13-game stretch, which he is now within reach of reaching—and even surpassing. With Marchand at the helm, Maurice and the Cats are confident they can weather any storm the tropical climate in South Florida has in store for them.

Marchand’s latest effort — a slick backhand finish midway through the second period — also stretched his point streak to eight games. The veteran winger has rediscovered his trademark edge, combining precision and poise as Florida capped its road trip at an even 2–2–0.

Vegas mounted a late push, but Sergei Bobrovsky turned aside 30 shots to preserve the win, marking his 437th career victory and tying him with Jacques Plante for ninth all time in NHL history.

It’s Marchand’s longest goal streak since the 2015–16 season, when he recorded seven straight games with a goal. Over his current eight-game point run, he’s tallied eight goals and four assists, now just two points shy of the 1,000 mark for his career.

Maurice’s reaction

“He’s special and tight. His hands are so quick,” Paul Maurice said according to NHL.com. “You know he’s a good player when you coach against him, but when you see him up close, it’s just exceptional.”

Florida’s balance and Vegas’ frustration

Jesper Boqvist opened the scoring for Florida in the first period, and Sam Reinhart added a power-play goal early in the third that proved decisive. “We looked cold for the last few games,” Maurice admitted. “It’s good that it’s a game-winner and off a shot tip.”

For Vegas, Tomas Hertl and Ivan Barbashev scored, while Carl Lindbom made 17 saves in the loss. Despite outshooting the Panthers 12–1 in the final frame, the Golden Knights fell short for the third straight game (0–2–1).

What comes next for Florida and Marchand?

With Marchand nearing the 1,000-point milestone, the Panthers will aim to sustain their momentum as they return home for a key divisional matchup against the Washington Capitals on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 8:00 p.m. ET. Marchand’s hot streak and Florida’s balance will be critical if the team hopes to continue climbing the standings and build on their recent success.

With Jonah Gadjovich and Sam Bennett uncertain to play when the Panthers take on the Anaheim Ducks on Nov. 4, Maurice addressed their status with a clear update for Marchand and the rest of the team to hear.

“Bennett is fine, per Paul Maurice,” as reported by Miami Herald’s Jordan McPherson on X. “Jonah Gadjovich not traveling [with the team], but Maurice said an update on him would come Wednesday.”

What happened to Bennett and Gadjovich?

Bennett wasn’t on the ice for the Panthers practice on Monday morning, raising alarms around Broward County. With the Cats scheduled to board the cross-country flight to California after practice, many were worried Bennett might be unable to join the team on the upcoming road trip. However, it seems the Conn Smythe Trophy winner was only taking a rest and is good to go.

Gadjovich, on the other hand, remains sidelined with an upper-body injury. Maurice announced that the 27-year-old will be out for at least a week, which would have made him eligible to return for the matchup against the Ducks at Honda Center. However, not only will Gadjovich miss the team’s second meeting with Anaheim, but he also won’t travel with the squad for their upcoming road games against the Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, and Vegas Golden Knights.

Setting the tone

As the Panthers pack their bags for a crucial West Coast road trip, they’ll look to keep their momentum rolling. Riding a three-game point streak, Marchand and the Cats hope to harvest some much-needed points in a tough region. Traveling from the Sunshine State to the Golden State is no easy task—the coast-to-coast flight can take its toll, and the Panthers have frequently been caught flat-footed in California. Mostly, though, when facing the Kings on the road.

Safety in the numbers

For all the success Florida has enjoyed against Anaheim—just miles from the City of Angels—the Cats have struggled to solve the Los Angeles Kings. The Panthers are 16-27-3 all time versus the Kings, marking their second-worst winning percentage (38%) against any NHL opponent.

When Marchand, Bennett, and company walk into Crypto.com Arena, they’ll be looking to snap a six-year hex. The last time Florida won in L.A. was back in March 2019. Aaron Ekblad is the only current Panther who was on that roster, while Aleksander Barkov—who also played in that game—remains on LTIR and will miss the trip to La-La Land.

Conversely, the Sharks and Ducks are the two teams Florida holds its best winning percentages against—62% and 57.6%, respectively. That’s excluding the Utah Mammoth, whom the Cats have faced only twice—and defeated as many times. The Panthers haven’t lost in San Jose since November 2015, and Florida is currently riding a six-year win-streak over the Ducks in Anaheim, with its last defeat being on March 2019.