Paul Maurice facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Paul Maurice |
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Maurice with the Florida Panthers in 2024
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| Born | January 30, 1967 Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada |
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| Current NHL coach | Florida Panthers | ||
| Coached for | Hartford Whalers Carolina Hurricanes Toronto Maple Leafs Winnipeg Jets |
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| Coaching career | 1988–present | ||
Paul Maurice (born January 30, 1967) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach. He is currently the main coach for the Florida Panthers team in the National Hockey League (NHL). The NHL is the top ice hockey league in North America.
Paul Maurice made history at age 43 by becoming the youngest coach in the NHL to coach 1,000 games. This happened on November 28, 2010. He also holds a record for the most losses by an NHL coach, with 736. Maurice started as a defenseman in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), a junior hockey league, but an eye injury ended his playing career early. He has coached several NHL teams, including the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Winnipeg Jets. In June 2022, he became the head coach of the Florida Panthers. He led them to the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals and then to the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals. On June 24, 2024, Maurice coached the Panthers to their first-ever Stanley Cup championship, winning the series in seven games against the Edmonton Oilers. This was his first championship in his 26th season as a head coach, which is a record!
Contents
- Playing Career
- Coaching Career
- Windsor Spitfires (1987–1990)
- Detroit Jr. Red Wings (1990–1995)
- Hartford Whalers / Carolina Hurricanes (1995–2003)
- Toronto Marlies (2005–2006)
- Toronto Maple Leafs (2006–2008)
- Return to Carolina (2008–2011)
- Metallurg Magnitogorsk (2012–2013)
- Winnipeg Jets (2014–2021)
- Florida Panthers (2022–present)
- International Coaching
- Head Coaching Record
Playing Career
Windsor Spitfires (1984–1988)
Paul Maurice started playing for the Windsor Spitfires in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) during the 1984–85 season. He played in 38 games and had three assists. After his first season, the Philadelphia Flyers picked him in the 12th round of the 1985 NHL entry draft.
He played more in the 1985–86 season, appearing in 56 games, scoring three goals and 13 points. He helped his team reach the playoffs. Maurice kept improving in the 1986–87 season, playing in 63 games and getting 19 points. The Spitfires made the playoffs again.
During the 1987–88 season, Maurice played 32 games. He suffered an eye injury that left him with a blind spot and blurry vision on his right side. Because of this injury, he decided to stop playing. The team owner, Peter Karmanos, offered him a choice: be traded or become an assistant coach. Maurice chose to become an assistant coach, starting his long coaching career.
Coaching Career
Windsor Spitfires (1987–1990)
Paul Maurice began his coaching journey right after he stopped playing. He became an assistant coach for the Windsor Spitfires, working under head coach Tom Webster. In the 1987–88 season, the Spitfires had an amazing record, winning 50 games. They won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, which is the OHL championship, and went to the 1988 Memorial Cup tournament. They made it to the final game but lost a close match.
Maurice stayed with the Spitfires for two more seasons as they rebuilt their team.
Detroit Jr. Red Wings (1990–1995)
In 1990, Maurice moved to a new team, the Detroit Compuware Ambassadors, which was an expansion team. He started as an assistant coach. The team struggled at first, but they improved over time.
In 1992–93, the team changed its name to the Detroit Jr. Red Wings. Maurice continued as an assistant coach, working with his former coach, Tom Webster. The team had its first winning season, showing great improvement.
In 1993–94, Paul Maurice became the head coach of the Jr. Red Wings. He led them to a fantastic season, finishing first in their division. They made it all the way to the OHL finals but lost in a very close seven-game series.
The next season, 1994–95, was even better! The Jr. Red Wings won their division again. They swept through the first three playoff rounds and reached the J. Ross Robertson Cup final for the second year in a row. This time, they won the championship! They then competed in the 1995 Memorial Cup but lost in the final game.
Hartford Whalers / Carolina Hurricanes (1995–2003)
Maurice then moved up to the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1995, joining the Hartford Whalers as an assistant coach. After just a few games, the head coach was fired, and Paul Maurice was promoted! At only 28 years old, he became one of the youngest head coaches in NHL history.
The Whalers later moved to North Carolina and became the Carolina Hurricanes. Maurice stayed on as their head coach. In 1998–99, the Hurricanes had a great season, winning their division and making the playoffs for the first time in a long time. They lost in the first round.
In 2001–02, Maurice led the Hurricanes to an amazing season. They won their division again and made a deep run in the playoffs. They defeated the New Jersey Devils, Montreal Canadiens, and Toronto Maple Leafs to win the Eastern Conference. This meant they reached the 2002 Stanley Cup Finals! They faced the Detroit Red Wings but lost the championship series in five games.
The team struggled the next season, and Maurice was fired in December 2003.
Toronto Marlies (2005–2006)
In 2005, Maurice became the head coach of the Toronto Marlies, a team in the American Hockey League (AHL). This league is a step below the NHL. He led the Marlies to the playoffs, but they were swept in the first round.
Toronto Maple Leafs (2006–2008)
After one season with the Marlies, Paul Maurice was promoted to become the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL for the 2006–07 season. In his first year, the team had a good record, but they just missed the playoffs by one point. The next season, they also missed the playoffs, and Maurice was fired in May 2008.
Return to Carolina (2008–2011)
Maurice returned to coach the Carolina Hurricanes in December 2008. Under his leadership, the team played much better and made it to the playoffs. They defeated the New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins, reaching the conference finals! However, they were swept by the Pittsburgh Penguins in that round.
The Hurricanes missed the playoffs in the next two seasons. In November 2011, Maurice was fired from the Hurricanes for a second time.
Metallurg Magnitogorsk (2012–2013)
In 2012, Paul Maurice took a coaching job in Russia with Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). He led the team to the playoffs, but they lost in the first round. After that season, he returned to North America to be closer to his family.
Winnipeg Jets (2014–2021)
In January 2014, the Winnipeg Jets hired Paul Maurice as their new head coach. He helped the team improve their record. In the 2014–15 season, Maurice led the Jets to their first playoff appearance since the team moved to Winnipeg! They had a great season with 99 points, but they were swept in the first round of the playoffs.
On October 20, 2017, Maurice won his 600th game as an NHL head coach, becoming only the 17th coach to reach this milestone. In 2017–18, he guided the Jets to the Western Conference finals, which is just one step before the Stanley Cup Finals. They lost to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Maurice resigned from his role with the Jets in December 2021.
Florida Panthers (2022–present)
On June 22, 2022, Paul Maurice was named the head coach of the Florida Panthers. In his first season, the Panthers made it to the 2023 playoffs as the last team to qualify in the Eastern Conference. They surprised everyone by making it all the way to the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals after sweeping the Carolina Hurricanes! They played against the Vegas Golden Knights in the final but lost the series.
On December 27, 2023, Maurice became only the third head coach in NHL history to coach in 1,800 regular season games. On January 24, 2024, he coached his 1,813th NHL game, passing Barry Trotz for second place on the all-time list of most games coached.
On June 1, 2024, Maurice's Panthers defeated the New York Rangers to reach the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals for the second year in a row! On June 24, he coached the Panthers to their first-ever Stanley Cup championship after a thrilling seven-game series against the Edmonton Oilers. This was a huge moment for the team and for Maurice, who had coached for 26 seasons before winning his first championship.
Maurice signed a new contract with the Panthers in October 2024, showing he will continue to lead the team.
International Coaching
Paul Maurice also helped coach Team Europe as an assistant coach in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Head Coaching Record
NHL
| Team | Year | Regular Season | Playoffs | ||||||||||
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| Games | Wins | Losses | Ties | Overtime Losses | Points | Finish | Wins | Losses | Win% | Result | |||
| HFD | 1995–96 | 70 | 29 | 33 | 8 | — | 66 | 5th in Northeast | — | — | — | Missed playoffs | |
| 1996–97 | 82 | 32 | 39 | 11 | — | 75 | 5th in Northeast | — | — | — | Missed playoffs | ||
| CAR | 1997–98 | 82 | 33 | 41 | 8 | — | 74 | 6th in Northeast | — | — | — | Missed playoffs | |
| 1998–99 | 82 | 34 | 30 | 18 | — | 86 | 1st in Southeast | 2 | 4 | .333 | Lost in first round | ||
| 1999–2000 | 82 | 37 | 35 | 10 | 0 | 84 | 3rd in Southeast | — | — | — | Missed playoffs | ||
| 2000–01 | 82 | 38 | 32 | 9 | 3 | 88 | 2nd in Southeast | 2 | 4 | .333 | Lost in first round | ||
| 2001–02 | 82 | 35 | 26 | 16 | 5 | 91 | 1st in Southeast | 13 | 10 | .565 | Lost in Stanley Cup Finals | ||
| 2002–03 | 82 | 22 | 43 | 11 | 6 | 61 | 5th in Southeast | — | — | — | Missed playoffs | ||
| 2003–04 | 30 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 2 | (26) | (fired) | — | — | — | — | ||
| TOR | 2006–07 | 82 | 40 | 31 | — | 11 | 91 | 3rd in Northeast | — | — | — | Missed playoffs | |
| 2007–08 | 82 | 36 | 35 | — | 11 | 83 | 5th in Northeast | — | — | — | Missed playoffs | ||
| CAR | 2008–09 | 57 | 33 | 19 | — | 5 | 71 | 2nd in Southeast | 8 | 10 | .444 | Lost in conference finals | |
| 2009–10 | 82 | 35 | 37 | — | 10 | 80 | 3rd in Southeast | — | — | — | Missed playoffs | ||
| 2010–11 | 82 | 40 | 31 | — | 11 | 91 | 3rd in Southeast | — | — | — | Missed playoffs | ||
| 2011–12 | 25 | 8 | 13 | — | 4 | (20) | (fired) | — | — | — | — | ||
| WPG | 2013–14 | 35 | 18 | 12 | — | 5 | 41 | 7th in Central | — | — | — | Missed playoffs | |
| 2014–15 | 82 | 43 | 26 | — | 13 | 99 | 5th in Central | 0 | 4 | .000 | Lost in first round | ||
| 2015–16 | 82 | 35 | 39 | — | 8 | 78 | 7th in Central | — | — | — | Missed playoffs | ||
| 2016–17 | 82 | 40 | 35 | — | 7 | 87 | 5th in Central | — | — | — | Missed playoffs | ||
| 2017–18 | 82 | 52 | 20 | — | 10 | 114 | 2nd in Central | 9 | 8 | .529 | Lost in conference finals | ||
| 2018–19 | 82 | 47 | 30 | — | 5 | 99 | 2nd in Central | 2 | 4 | .333 | Lost in first round | ||
| 2019–20 | 71 | 37 | 28 | — | 6 | 80 | 5th in Central | 1 | 3 | .250 | Lost in qualifying round | ||
| 2020–21 | 56 | 30 | 23 | — | 3 | 63 | 3rd in North | 4 | 4 | .500 | Lost in second round | ||
| 2021–22 | 29 | 13 | 11 | — | 5 | (31) | (resigned) | — | — | — | — | ||
| FLA | 2022–23 | 82 | 42 | 32 | — | 8 | 92 | 4th in Atlantic | 13 | 8 | .619 | Lost in Stanley Cup Finals | |
| 2023–24 | 82 | 52 | 24 | — | 6 | 110 | 1st in Atlantic | 16 | 8 | .667 | Won Stanley Cup | ||
| NHL Total | 1,848 | 869 | 736 | 99 | 144 | 70 | 67 | .511 | 11 playoff appearances 1 Stanley Cup |
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