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 and former player. He is the head coach for the Florida Panthers in the National Hockey League (NHL). Maurice is famous for his long and successful coaching career, which includes leading the Panthers to two Stanley Cup championships in a row.
When he was 43, Maurice became the youngest coach in NHL history to reach 1,000 games. He also holds the record for the most losses by a coach, with 767, showing how long he has been in the league.
Before becoming a coach, Maurice played as a defenceman in junior hockey. His playing career was cut short by an eye injury. This led him to start coaching, and he has since worked with several NHL teams, including the Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Winnipeg Jets. In 2024 and 2025, he coached the Florida Panthers to back-to-back Stanley Cup victories.
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From Player to Coach
Paul Maurice played junior hockey for four years as a defenceman in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He played for the Windsor Spitfires from 1984 to 1988. In 1985, he was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers.
During the 1987–88 season, his playing career ended because of an eye injury. The injury left him with a blind spot in his right eye. The team owner, Peter Karmanos, gave him a choice: be traded or become an assistant coach. Maurice chose to become a coach, starting a new chapter in his hockey journey.
Early Coaching Career
Junior Hockey Success
Maurice began his coaching career as an assistant with the Windsor Spitfires. The team had a great season and reached the 1988 Memorial Cup final, the championship for Canadian junior hockey.
In 1993, Maurice became the head coach of the Detroit Jr. Red Wings in the OHL. He hired his friend and former teammate, Peter DeBoer, as his assistant. In the 1994–95 season, he led the team to an OHL championship, winning the J. Ross Robertson Cup. This victory earned them a spot in the 1995 Memorial Cup, where they made it to the final game.
NHL Coaching Journey
Hartford Whalers and Carolina Hurricanes
In 1995, Maurice moved up to the NHL as an assistant coach for the Hartford Whalers. After just 12 games, he was promoted to head coach. At only 28 years old, he was the second-youngest head coach in NHL history.
In 1997, the Whalers moved to North Carolina and became the Carolina Hurricanes. Maurice continued as head coach. In the 2001–02 season, he led the Hurricanes on an amazing playoff run all the way to the 2002 Stanley Cup Finals. They lost to the Detroit Red Wings, but it was a huge achievement for the team. The team struggled after that, and Maurice was let go in 2003.
Toronto Maple Leafs
After a season coaching the Toronto Marlies in the American Hockey League (AHL), Maurice was named head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2006. He coached the Leafs for two seasons. The team came very close to making the playoffs in his first year but just missed out. He left the team in 2008.
Return to the Hurricanes
In December 2008, Maurice made a surprise return to the Carolina Hurricanes. He immediately helped the team improve. They went on another exciting playoff run, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals before losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He coached the Hurricanes for three more seasons before leaving the team again in 2011.
A Season in Russia
For the 2012–13 season, Maurice took on a new challenge. He became the head coach of Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in Russia. He led the team to the playoffs before deciding to return to North America to be with his family.
Winnipeg Jets
In January 2014, Maurice was hired as the head coach of the Winnipeg Jets. He coached the Jets for almost eight years, becoming the longest-serving coach in the team's history. He led them to the playoffs five times. Their best season was in 2017–18, when they reached the Western Conference Finals. In December 2021, Maurice decided to resign, saying the team needed a new voice.
Florida Panthers and Stanley Cup Glory
On June 22, 2022, Paul Maurice was named the head coach of the Florida Panthers. In his first season, he led the team on an incredible underdog run to the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals. Although they lost to the Vegas Golden Knights, it set the stage for future success.
The next season, Maurice and the Panthers were determined to win. They returned to the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals, this time facing the Edmonton Oilers. On June 24, 2024, the Panthers won the series in a thrilling seven-game final. It was the team's first-ever Stanley Cup championship and Maurice's first as a head coach after 26 seasons.
In the 2024–25 season, the Panthers proved their championship was no fluke. They fought their way back to the 2025 Stanley Cup Finals for a rematch against the Oilers. On June 17, 2025, the Panthers won their second straight Stanley Cup, this time in six games.
