Paul Maurice thinks this year’s Florida Panthers team isn’t just good – it’s the best he’s ever coached.
“I’m not being disrespectful to the other teams I’ve coached, but this is the best team I’ve ever coached. It’s not really that close,” Maurice told reporters on Saturday.
That’s quite a statement from a guy who’s been behind NHL benches for 27 years.
Even more surprising? His Panthers won the Stanley Cup just last year, beating the Edmonton Oilers in seven games. Now they’re back for another shot at the title, making their third straight Final appearance.
The addition of Brad Marchand has made an already strong team even better.
Maurice knows what he’s talking about. He’s coached four different NHL teams over five different stints – the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, and now the Panthers. That’s a lot of hockey teams to compare against.
But those words might come back to haunt him if things don’t go Florida’s way.
The Panthers will get their chance to prove their coach right when they face off against Edmonton in Game 1 this Wednesday at Rogers Place.
Maurice, who’s known for his colorful quotes, is putting a lot of pressure on his team. But at 58 years old, he’s seen enough hockey to know what he’s got in this group.
Now it’s up to the Panthers to show everyone else why their coach is so confident.
