Paul Maurice (born January 30, 1967) is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former player. He is the head coach of the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). At age 43, Maurice became the youngest coach in NHL history to coach 1,000 games, reaching the milestone on November 28, 2010. He also holds a record for the most losses by an NHL coach with 713.
Originally a defenceman in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Maurice played four years of junior hockey prior to suffering an eye injury. Maurice formerly coached the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes franchise from 1995 to 2003 and the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2006 to 2008. On December 3, 2008, Maurice was re-hired by the Hurricanes after the firing of Peter Laviolette, who had replaced him in 2003. On November 28, 2011, the Carolina Hurricanes announced that he had been fired for a second time, whereupon, after a brief stint coaching Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), he joined the Winnipeg Jets in January 2014. After his resignation from the Jets in December 2021, Maurice was named head coach of the Florida Panthers in June 2022, and coached the Panthers to an appearance in the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals, his second Stanley Cup appearance as a head coach.
Playing career
Windsor Spitfires (1984–1988) Maurice began playing with the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in 1984–85, appearing in 38 games with the club and earning three assists. He was held off the scoresheet in four playoff games, as Windsor was swept by the London Knights in the first round. After his rookie season, Maurice was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 12th round, 252nd overall, in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft, which was the final selection of that year's draft.
Maurice saw increased playing time with the Spitfires in 1985–86, playing in 56 games, scoring three goals and 13 points and helping the club reach the post-season once again. In 16 playoff games, Maurice had two assists as Windsor eventually lost in the Emms Division Finals to the Guelph Platers in six games.
Maurice continued to improve as a player with Windsor in the 1986–87 season, as he appeared in 63 games, scoring four goals and 19 points. The Spitfires qualified for the post-season again, and in 14 games, Maurice had two goals and three points as Windsor lost to the North Bay Centennials in the division finals.
Maurice began the 1987–88 season playing with the Spitfires, and in 32 games, he had a goal and five points. As a result of his eye injury, he still has a blind spot and suffers fuzziness on the right side of his vision. When goaltender Pat Jablonski was sent down to the Spitfires by the NHL's St. Louis Blues, the club was forced to vacate a spot on the team to accommodate him. Singled out, Maurice was given the option by team owner Peter Karmanos to be traded or to become an assistant coach with team. Choosing the latter, Maurice retired from hockey and focused his career on coaching.
Career statistics
Coaching career
Windsor Spitfires (1987–1990) Maurice began his coaching career as an assistant coach with the Spitfires after he retired as a player. He began working under head coach Tom Webster. The Spitfires finished the 1987–88 season with the best record in the league, going 50–14–2. In the playoffs, Windsor swept the Kitchener Rangers, Hamilton Steelhawks and Peterborough Petes to win the J. Ross Robertson Cup and earn a berth in the 1988 Memorial Cup. In the round-robin portion of the tournament, the Spitfires went 3–0, outscoring the opposition 18–9, and clinched a position in the Memorial Cup final. In the final game, the Spitfires were upset by the Medicine Hat Tigers, losing 7–6.
Maurice spent his first full season with the club in 1988–89, as the rebuilding club struggled to a 25–37–4 record, earning 54 points, however, the team reached the playoffs. In the first round of the post-season, the Spitfires were swept by the Niagara Falls Thunder in four games.
The rebuilding Spitfires had a new head coach for the 1989–90, as Tom Webster left to become the head coach of the Los Angeles Kings, and Brad Smith was hired to take his place. Windsor struggled to a 17–41–8 record, finishing in last place in the Emms Division, and failed to make the playoffs.
Detroit Compuware Ambassadors/Detroit Jr. Red Wings (1990–1995) Maurice left his job as an assistant coach with the Spitfires in the summer of 1990, opting to join Peter Karmanos, who became the owner of the expansion team, the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors. Maurice was hired as an assistant coach under head coach Andy Weidenbach.