Florida Panthers Extend Head Coach Paul Maurice with Multi-Year Contract

Stanley Cup-winning coach continues to lead the team after back-to-back Finals appearances and the franchise’s first-ever championship victory.

SUNRISE, Fla. — Florida Panthers President of Hockey Operations & General Manager Bill Zito announced today that the team has reached an agreement with Head Coach Paul Maurice on a multi-year contract extension.

“Paul has driven our organization to unprecedented success in his short time in South Florida,” said Zito. “He’s a remarkable communicator and leader, with a brilliant strategic mind for the game. We’re thrilled to have him continue guiding the Panthers and ensuring the team remains a top destination for years to come.”

Maurice, 57, is entering his third season as the Panthers’ head coach. Under his leadership, the team has achieved a remarkable 98-58-15 regular-season record and a franchise-best 29 postseason wins (29-16). Maurice’s tenure includes leading the team to its first Stanley Cup title in 2023-24, with back-to-back Finals appearances. He boasts an impressive playoff series record of 7-1 with Florida, including two game-seven victories, notably against Boston in 2023’s first round and versus Edmonton in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, improving his game-seven personal record to a perfect 5-0.

Since taking the helm, Maurice has helped the Panthers secure their first Stanley Cup, two Prince of Wales trophies, and an Atlantic Division title. Under his guidance, Florida has become one of the most formidable teams in the league. Since the start of the 2022-23 season, the Panthers lead the league in shots on goal per game (35.1), rank in the top 10 for both goals per game (3.37) and power-play percentage (23.0), and boast one of the strongest defenses with only 2.89 goals against per game.

In the 2023-24 season alone, the team achieved franchise records for the lowest goals against per game (2.41) and shots against per game (27.8), finishing the season with 110 points—the second-highest total in club history.

Maurice’s NHL coaching legacy extends well beyond his time in Florida. With over 25 years of experience behind the bench, he began his NHL head coaching career at just 28 years old with the Hartford Whalers (now Carolina Hurricanes) in 1995. He spent over a decade with the franchise, guiding the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup Final in 2002. Maurice later had two coaching stints with the Toronto Maple Leafs (2006-2008) and returned to the Hurricanes before taking the helm at the Winnipeg Jets in 2014. During his eight-year tenure with Winnipeg, Maurice led the team to several playoff appearances, including a trip to the Western Conference Final in 2018.

With over 1,855 regular-season games coached—the second-most in NHL history—Maurice trails only legendary coach Scotty Bowman (2,141). His 873 career wins place him fourth on the all-time coaching wins list, highlighting his consistency and success throughout his career.

The Panthers’ continued success under Maurice ensures their place as a powerhouse in the NHL, with the team poised for more seasons of competitive hockey with him at the helm. With all of the contract extensions the Panthers have completed this core Panthers team is here to stay for a while!