FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Tomas Nosek faced a moment every hockey player dreads. It was overtime in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, and the seasoned fourth-line forward for the Florida Panthers was in the penalty box. He had been whistled for delaying the game after sending the puck over the glass with just 1:42 left in the extra period. From there, he could only watch helplessly as Edmonton`s Leon Draisaitl scored on the ensuing power play, securing the game-winner.
This was a devastating setback for Nosek. However, the reaction from head coach Paul Maurice was geared towards preventing that crushing feeling from lingering.
“You just remind him after the game of being down 2-0 to Toronto [in the second round] when that [fourth] line came in and changed everything for us,” Maurice explained during his postgame media session. “And how we are not here [in the Final] without Tomas. It’s a tough break. So, we’ll just make sure he doesn’t eat alone tonight. He’s got lots of people sitting at his table and reminding him how good he’s been to us.”
Nosek, who is 32 and has played for five different NHL teams, wasn`t necessarily expecting that level of empathy. He described the interaction with Maurice after his miscue as truly special compared to his experiences in other locker rooms.
“He’s a tremendous person,” Nosek commented. “He said some things that he didn’t need to say, but he said it. And that’s what makes him, for me, a really, really good coach and a really good person as well.”
Like Nosek, Maurice has moved around the league, but it`s at his sixth coaching stop with the Panthers that he seems to be doing his best work. It`s not merely that he has guided Florida to a third consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearance, where they are aiming for a second straight title after winning their first a year prior. Maurice has been a central figure in shaping the team`s culture.
Before Maurice arrived in 2022, the Panthers were considered a strong team on the verge of elite status. Three years later, Florida is nearing dynasty territory.
While this transformation isn`t solely due to Maurice, he has undeniably been a key component in helping the Panthers thrive, both collectively and individually, whether he takes credit or not.
“Every single guy respects him so much,” stated forward Sam Bennett. “When he speaks, everyone’s listening, and I think the team’s really just bought into the culture that he’s implemented into this team. We’re all willing to do whatever it takes and play that hard style that he keeps preaching to us, night in and night out, and we’ve all just bought into that over the years.”
It was just before Christmas in 2021 when Maurice felt his time as a coach was coming to an end. He had spent nine seasons coaching the Winnipeg Jets and, seeing the team struggle with a 4-7-2 stretch, recognized they needed a new voice at the helm.
“If you’ll allow me some arrogance, I feel I’m better positioned than anyone to know that they need a new voice,” Maurice said upon announcing his resignation. “They need somebody that can get them to that next place.”
Ironically, the Panthers would soon find themselves in a similar situation. Little did Maurice know then that he was the ideal candidate for that job. When he stepped down in Winnipeg, Maurice cited a loss of passion for the game itself, vowing that without rekindling it, “you can’t be as good as you could be or should be, and that’s how I feel.”
As Maurice contemplated his future, the Panthers were enjoying success. Florida dominated the NHL in 2021-22, earning the franchise`s first Presidents` Trophy as the top regular-season team with 122 points. However, this success didn`t translate in the postseason, as Florida was swept in the second round by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
It became clear Florida needed a new perspective. Following the season, GM Bill Zito decided to move on from interim head coach Andrew Brunette, who had taken over after Joel Quenneville resigned in October amidst sexual assault allegations related to his time with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Despite Brunette`s accomplishments, Zito sought someone else for the permanent role, and Maurice was ready to give his coaching career another opportunity.
The partnership has proven to be a perfect fit in numerous ways.
Shortly after Maurice joined, Zito made headlines with a major trade in July 2022, sending the Panthers` leading scorer Jonathan Huberdeau and defenseman MacKenzie Weegar to the Calgary Flames in exchange for forward Matthew Tkachuk.
While this blockbuster trade overshadowed Maurice`s arrival, both additions were crucial in redefining the Panthers` identity. Tkachuk embodied the physically demanding style Maurice was emphasizing. Almost instantly, Florida found harmony between a superstar player and the coach. This synergy made it easier to get everyone else on board, especially given Maurice`s talent for understanding and connecting with his team.
“He’s open, honest and speaks his mind,” forward Evan Rodrigues observed. “I don’t think he holds back by any means. [He’s] very smart. Knows kind of what to say and when to say it, and does a great job of motivating us.”
Communication might be one of Maurice`s greatest assets, unless the topic is himself. Maurice reached his 1,000th career win when Florida defeated Edmonton 6-1 in Game 3 of the Cup Final, an achievement he chose not to comment on specifically. However, he was clearly moved by Bennett`s remarks about the team`s high regard for their coach, calling it “a very kind thing” for a key player to say about his leadership.
“If you walk into the room and you just tell the truth,” Maurice reflected, “whether they want to hear it or not but it’s the truth, and over time you could look back and say what that person told me was the truth, you’ll have respect for that, I think. So I work hard at trying to find the truth every day and then just telling it as simply as I can with the occasional joke slipped in. Most times I’m the only one that thinks it’s funny.”
Carter Verhaeghe grins when asked about Maurice and the unique traits that make him stand out among today`s coaches.
“He’s one of a kind,” Verhaeghe said. “We see his sense of humor with [the media] and he kind of has the same sense of humor with us. He keeps everything light but makes you want to work; and for the right reasons, for each other. At any given time, he knows what the group needs … it keeps us loose and focused at the same time.”
Fortunately for Maurice, it`s his coaching acumen, not just his comedic timing, that has solidified the Panthers` reputation as a desirable destination for players, especially those looking to revitalize their careers. While Florida`s lack of state income tax has long been a draw for NHL free agents, the appeal of playing for the Panthers now extends beyond financial benefits. Under Maurice, Florida boasts a record of 141-87-18, establishing itself as a consistent playoff powerhouse. The team possesses a certain chemistry that seems to elevate the performance of newcomers, often leading to some of their best professional years.
A.J. Greer serves as a prime example. The veteran signed a two-year contract with Florida last July 1 and achieved a career-best 17 points during the regular season. He has become a vital contributor on the impactful fourth line during this postseason run. The way Maurice has made Greer`s unit with Nosek feel essential is a testament to his skill in maximizing the potential of his roster.
“Every player that comes into this organization elevates their game and gets to a certain point where you’re like, ‘Wow. Why wasn’t he like this in the other organizations?’ It translates from the head coach,” Greer explained. “He’s a lot of different coaches that I’ve had kind of combined into one. He’s kind of just a complete package of being able to motivate us and elevate our games mentally.”
In Florida, there`s an expectation that joining the team comes with high standards and the potential for exceptional results. No one embodies this more than Maurice. There`s a strong conviction in his strategic approach and how he wants the team managed, but personal growth has taught Maurice to be less rigid in his daily coaching style.
“I’ve spent a lot of years in this league grinding and spitting nails every single day,” Maurice admitted. “It’s too hard to do. You have to be able to find places where you can laugh a little bit and enjoy it. Once you know everyone’s going to work their butt off, it’s easy to do.”
This philosophy influences how Maurice conducts practices during the playoffs. Florida didn`t hold a full practice after winning Game 3 and had only an optional skate the morning before Game 4. Maurice is flexible in adjusting the team`s schedule, remaining attuned to what players need to perform effectively. This crucial insight allows him to know when to practice and how long to keep sessions going.
“In my relationship with these players, [I ask], when was the last time we added a drill or a skate to practice? I haven’t done it in three years,” he noted. “All I do is as soon as I think I get them to the threshold, I shut practice down. Then you get to have a good time. If you believe that you’ve worked as hard as you can, then there’s nothing left to do.”
They say winning changes a person, but apparently not Maurice, at least according to his team. They still hear the familiar sayings and insights from their coach, even after lifting the Stanley Cup a season ago.
“He [brings] pretty much the same stuff. Nothing really changed,” stated Anton Lundell. “I think you guys know, too; he’s got a lot of things to say, so it’s not only one or two things. He always switches it up and rotates his quotes. But it’s fun to be here, and as a group we like him.”
If there has been any evolution in Maurice, it`s been positive for the Panthers. Their path to the Cup Final this year involved more challenges than before, featuring stretches of dominance mixed with periods of adversity that led to questions about their ability to repeat as champions.
Maurice kept the Panthers composed through these peaks and valleys until the team fully hit its stride.
“He’s the same guy, the same coach,” defenseman Gustav Forsling commented. “Maybe even better, probably. He’s really good. He’s still very much looking at every game and he’s reading into everything. And he’s giving us the best chance to win every night.”
Perhaps Maurice`s greatest skill is his ability to instill confidence. Whether the Panthers are leading or trailing in a playoff series, they don`t panic or fall apart, though they might stumble momentarily. There`s always a safety net provided by Maurice and his strategies, which are effective and trusted because they consistently produce results. The team believes that following his guidance leads to success.
And the Panthers are potentially just days away from demonstrating that truth once again.
“I don’t think he’s changed since winning [the Cup]. He’s the same,” Bennett reiterated. “He can be hard on us. He’s hard on us when he needs to be. And then he’s relaxed with us when he knows that we need [it], so I think he really does have a good feel for what our team needs. We all have the most respect for him.”
Rupert Hartwell 
Benedict Kingsley