NHL Rumors: Panthers Set To Interview 5 High Class Head Coaches

As the options slowly dwindle for the Florida Panthers in terms of head coaches for next season, they seem to be in the midst of seeing what's out there before re-signing Andrew Brunette. Frank Seravalli reported that the Panthers are interviewing five new candidates for the vacant spot, including Peter DeBoer, Barry Trotz, Paul Maurice, Travis Green, and Rick Tocchet.

Those are very experienced and successful coaching candidates, as a team like the Panthers would surely be able to attract the best with the on-ice talent and location. Of the five men they plan on interviewing, only Trotz has won a Stanley Cup and only two others have even taken their teams to a Cup Final: DeBoer with the New Jersey Devils (2011-12) and San Jose Sharks (2015-16) while Maurice did so with the Carolina Hurricanes (2001-02).

Trotz has been a head coach for 23 seasons as the first coach in Nashville Predators history, the Washington Capitals, and most recently the New York Islanders. His teams have qualified for the playoffs in 14 of the 23 seasons and he has 914 career wins which ranks third all-time.

Maurice is the second-most experienced coach of the group. He has the seventh most wins among head coaches in NHL history with 775 and has coached four teams: the Hartford Whalers, Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, and most recently the Winnipeg Jets for nine seasons before stepping down in the middle of the season.

Next up is DeBoer who has a very good win percentage as a head coach over his 15 year coaching career. He coached the Panthers for three seasons to begin his head coaching career from 2008-2011, followed by the Devils, Sharks, and Vegas Golden Knights. He has 513 career wins and has gotten a reputation for getting his team into the playoffs and doing well.

The other two candidates are less experienced and less successful options. Green has only coached for five seasons in the NHL, all for the Vancouver Canucks, taking them to the playoffs in just one of those seasons and finishing no higher than fourth in their division. Tocchet has coached for the Tampa Bay Lightning and most recently the Arizona Coyotes where he only qualified for the playoffs in one season as well. He has been off since the 2020-21 season.

The Panthers surely have their options and should get themselves a great coach next season, whether they bring back Brunette or bring in a new voice.