FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Tomas Nosek found himself in a situation any hockey player would call a nightmare. It was overtime in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, and the seasoned fourth-line forward for the Florida Panthers was serving a delay of game penalty, having sent the puck over the glass late in extra time. From the penalty box, he could only watch powerlessly as Leon Draisaitl of Edmonton netted the winning goal shortly after.
For Nosek, this was a crushing blow. Coach Paul Maurice’s reaction aimed to ensure the devastating feeling wouldn`t linger.
“You just remind him after the game about being down 2-0 to Toronto [in the second round] when that [fourth] line stepped up and changed everything for us,” Maurice stated in his postgame comments. “And how we wouldn`t be 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 plenty of people at his table, reminding him how valuable he`s been to us.”
Nosek was surprised by this level of empathy. The 32-year-old has played for five different NHL teams, and he described the exchange with Maurice after his mistake as unique compared to other locker rooms.
“He’s an amazing person. He said things he didn’t have to say, but he did,” Nosek commented. “And that, for me, is what makes him a truly, truly excellent coach and a great person too.”
Like Nosek, Maurice has had a well-traveled career across the league. It is at his sixth coaching stop – with the Panthers – where he seems to be doing his best work. It`s not just that he has guided Florida to a third consecutive Cup Final appearance, vying for a second straight title after winning the franchise`s first a year ago. Maurice has been central to the team`s cultural transformation.
Before Maurice arrived in 2022, the Panthers were a solid team on the verge of achieving something significant. Three years later, Florida is nearing dynasty status.
Of course, this isn`t solely Maurice`s achievement. But whether he takes credit or not, Maurice has been a crucial element in helping the Panthers excel, both collectively and individually.
“Every single player respects him immensely,” forward Sam Bennett said. “When he speaks, everyone listens, and I believe the team has truly embraced the culture he has instilled. We are all ready to do whatever it takes and play the hard style he consistently preaches to us, game after game, and we`ve all bought into that over the years.”
IT WAS JUST BEFORE Christmas in 2021 when Maurice felt his time was up. He had coached the Winnipeg Jets for nine seasons and could see, with the team struggling through a rough patch, that they needed a different voice calling the shots.
“If you`ll allow me some confidence, I feel I`m in a better position than anyone to know they need a new voice,” Maurice said when announcing his resignation. “They need someone who can lead them to the next level.”
Ironically, the same would soon apply to the Panthers. Maurice didn`t know at the time that he was the ideal person for that role. Because when he was leaving Winnipeg, he mentioned a loss of passion for the game itself and stated that without regaining it, “you can`t be as good as you could be or should be, and that`s how I feel.”
While Maurice was considering his future, the Panthers were enjoying their present success. Florida dominated the NHL with a 122-point season in 2021-22, earning the franchise`s first Presidents` Trophy as the league`s top regular-season team. However, that achievement didn`t translate to postseason success, as Florida was swept in the second round by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
It was Florida, then, that required a new voice. After the season, GM Bill Zito parted ways with interim head coach Andrew Brunette, who had taken over after Joel Quenneville resigned following sexual assault allegations against the Chicago Blackhawks during Quenneville`s tenure there.
Despite how far Brunette had taken Florida, Zito wanted to find someone else for the permanent position – and Maurice was willing to give his past passion another try.
It has been a perfect fit, in multiple ways.
Maurice had barely settled in when Zito stunned the hockey world with a major trade in July 2022, sending the Panthers` top scorer Jonathan Huberdeau and defenseman MacKenzie Weegar to the Calgary Flames for forward Matthew Tkachuk.
That significant move overshadowed the Maurice news, but both additions were key to reshaping the Panthers` identity. Tkachuk embodied the physically focused approach Maurice was advocating. Almost immediately, Florida found synergy between a superstar player and their coach. This made it easier to get everyone else on board, especially with Maurice`s skill in reading the room.
“He’s straightforward, honest, and speaks his mind,” forward Evan Rodrigues noted. “I don’t think he holds back at all. He`s very smart. He knows sort of what to say and when to say it, and he does an excellent job of motivating us.”
Communication might be one of Maurice`s greatest assets – unless it`s about himself. Maurice achieved his 1,000th career win when Florida defeated Edmonton 6-1 in Game 3 of the Cup Final, an accomplishment he chose not to comment on specifically. But Maurice was moved to hear Bennett`s remarks about the Panthers` high regard for their coach, calling it “a very kind gesture” from his top player about how Maurice has handled leading the team.
“If you enter the room and simply state the truth,” Maurice explained, “whether they want to hear it or not, but it is the truth, and over time you can reflect and say what that person told me was the truth, I think you`ll have respect for that. So, I work hard at trying to discover the truth every day and then just communicating it as simply as possible, occasionally adding a joke. Most of the time, I`m the only one who finds it funny.”
Carter Verhaeghe grins when asked about Maurice and the unique traits that make him a distinct personality in today’s game.
“He`s one of a kind,” Verhaeghe said. “We see his sense of humor with [the media], and he has pretty much the same sense of humor with us. He keeps things light but inspires you to work hard; and for the right reasons, for each other. At any moment, he understands what the group needs… it keeps us relaxed and focused simultaneously.”
Fortunately for Maurice, it’s not his comedic timing that has solidified the Panthers` position as an attractive destination for players – especially those seeking to revitalize their careers. While it was once believed – and still is – that Florida`s lack of state income tax is the primary draw for NHL free agents, the appeal of wearing a Panthers jersey extends beyond potential cash savings. Florida has a 141-87-18 record under Maurice, is a consistent playoff force, and seems to possess some kind of magic that, when applied to numerous new arrivals, has resulted in some of their best years ever.
Just ask A.J. Greer.
The veteran signed a two-year deal with Florida and recorded a career-high 17 points in the regular season on his way to becoming a crucial part of the Panthers` effective fourth line during this postseason run. And the way Maurice has made his line, including Nosek, feel important is a testament to Maurice`s skill in getting the utmost from his group.
“Every player who joins this organization elevates their game and reaches a certain level where you think, `Wow. Why wasn`t he like this in other organizations?` It stems from the head coach,” Greer stated. “He`s like a lot of different coaches I`ve had combined into one. He`s essentially a complete package of being able to motivate us and mentally elevate our games.”
It has become the norm in Florida that entering the fold comes with high expectations for remarkable results. No one embodies this more than Maurice. There is a fundamental belief in his system and how he wants to manage the team, but personal growth has taught Maurice to be less rigid in his day-to-day approach to the game.
“I`ve spent many years in this league grinding and being intense every single day,” Maurice reflected. “It`s too exhausting. You have to be able to find moments where you can laugh a little and enjoy it. Once you know everyone is committed to working extremely hard, it becomes easy.”
This attitude reflects in how Maurice guides the Panthers through their playoff practices. Florida didn`t skate at all after winning Game 3 and held only an optional practice the morning before Game 4. Maurice is open to adjusting the Panthers` schedule as they progress, attuned to what players need to succeed – a vital combination that allows Maurice to know when it`s the right time for a practice and precisely how long it should last.
“In my relationship with these players, [I consider], when was the last time we added a drill or extra skating to practice? I haven`t done it in three years,” he said. “All I do is, as soon as I believe I`ve pushed them to the threshold, I end practice. Then you get to enjoy yourselves. If you believe you`ve worked as hard as you possibly can, then there`s nothing more to do.”
THEY SAY WINNING can change a person. Maurice, apparently, is not one of them. At least not according to his team, who are still hearing the same familiar sayings from their leader even after lifting hockey`s ultimate prize a season ago.
“He brings pretty much the same things. Nothing really changed,” Anton Lundell commented. “I think you guys know, too; he has a lot to say, so it’s not just one or two things. He always varies it and rotates his quotes. But it’s enjoyable being here, and as a group, we like him.”
If there has been any change in Maurice, it has been positive for the Panthers. Florida`s path to the Cup Final this year was less smooth than before, fluctuating between dominant stretches and periods of difficulty that raised questions about their ability to compete for consecutive championships.
Maurice maintained the Panthers` composure through these ups and downs until Florida fully hit their stride.
“He’s the same person, the same coach,” defenseman Gustav Forsling said. “Maybe even better, probably. He’s really good. He still pays close attention to every game and analyzes everything. And he gives us the best chance to win every night.”
That might be Maurice`s greatest skill – an ability to instill confidence. Whether Florida is ahead or behind in a playoff series – as they have been at times this spring – the Panthers don`t panic. They don`t fall apart. They might stumble, perhaps. But the safety net is there. It comes from Maurice and his philosophies, which are well-received because they *work*. Florida can trust that if they follow his guidance, positive outcomes will follow.
And the Panthers could be just days away from proving that point. Again.
“I don’t think he`s changed since winning [the Cup]. He’s the same,” Bennett stated. “He can be tough on us. He is tough on us when he needs to be. And then he is relaxed with us when he knows that we need [it], so I think he genuinely has a good sense of what our team requires. We all have the utmost respect for him.”
