SUNRISE, Fla. — The Florida Panthers have announced a significant contract extension for their Stanley Cup championship-winning head coach, Paul Maurice.

The agreement comes as Maurice was entering the final year of his three-year contract, and with the Panthers’ success under his leadership, it was clear the team intended to keep him on board after reaching the Stanley Cup Final in both of his initial seasons.

As of Tuesday, Maurice had accumulated 98 regular-season victories with the Panthers, ranking him third in the franchise’s history, trailing only Jacques Martin (110) and Peter DeBoer (103).

His playoff accomplishments with Florida are exceptional; Maurice has led the Panthers to 29 playoff wins, including the franchise’s first Stanley Cup last season. In contrast, all previous coaches combined have a total of 25 playoff victories.

This latest contract extension reflects the Panthers’ commitment to maintaining their championship-level roster for the foreseeable future.

Earlier this season, Florida finalized an eight-year contract for forward Carter Verhaeghe.

This means several key players, including Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Reinhart, Anton Lundell, and Gustav Forsling, are secured through at least the year 2030. Additionally, the organization is in discussions for a potential extension with forward Sam Bennett.

Maurice’s coaching experience in the NHL is extensive, ranking second in games coached (1,855 as of Tuesday) behind legendary coach Scotty Bowman (2,141).

He is also fourth in overall wins, amassing 873 victories, trailing Bowman (1,244), Joel Quenneville (969), and Barry Trotz (914).

The Panthers’ triumph last season marked Maurice’s first Stanley Cup championship, solidifying his legacy in Florida.