Florida Panthers hire ex-Jets coach Paul Morris

TAMPA, FL – Paul Morris has been appointed as the new head coach for the Florida Panthers, replacing interim head coach Andrew Brunettea source confirmed to ESPN.

Morris, 55, resigned from the Winnipeg Jets after 29 games this season, ending nine years with the franchise. He has coached 1,685 regular season games in the National Hockey League, the fourth most in NHL history, and is the seventh in a winning streak with 775. He has previously coached the Jets, Carolina Hurricanes, Hartford Whalers and Toronto Maple Leafs.

That experience was a major factor in his appointment to Florida, according to a source. While other candidates for training have been rumored, the Panthers focused on Morris when there was a common interest, checking him out on everything from his player management to his snowboard tactics.

The brunette replaced Joel Quinville as head coach on October 29, 2021. Quinville resigned after a report was released detailing how the Chicago Blackhawks misrepresented allegations that a player was sexually assaulted by an assistant coach in 2010, when Quinville was the team’s coach.

The brunette was on her way to getting a contract extension before the Stanley Cup playoffs. He led the Panthers to the franchise’s first Presidents Cup as the best regular-season team in the league. They were the highest-scoring team in the NHL since the 1995-96 season. Brown became the first temporary coach since then Craig Berob from St. Louis Blues in 2019 for the Jack Adams nomination.

The Panthers eliminated the Washington Capitals in six games in their first playoff series win since 1996. But the Panthers were overrun by rival Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round, scoring just three goals in the series. Brown’s coaching decisions have been called into question, prompting the Panthers to explore other options in the off-season.

The brunette is expected to be offered the opportunity to stay with the organization.

Morris signed a multi-year contract.