"Build the statue," "Reinvented this franchise": NHL fans react as Paul Maurice sings contract extension with Panthers

The Florida Panthers and head coach Paul Maurice have agreed on a contract extension, NHL.com reported on Tuesday. Maurice has led the Cats to back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances, including last season’s first team championship.

The Panthers also posted news about Maurice's contract extension on their official X account.

The news has been met with a widely positive fan reaction. Here’s a look at what these fans had to say:

“Well deserved. This man reinvented this franchise,” a fan opined.

“Smart move. Great leader,” another fan weighed in.

“Build the Statue!” this fan Tweeted.

Even a non-Panthers fan could not help but praise Paul Maurice and the Florida front office.

"Not a Cats fan but he’s one of the best coaches in all of sports. Great move," the fan said.

Now that Paul Maurice’s extension is a done deal, some fans offered suggestions as to who should be the next Panthers member to get extended. In particular, center Sam Bennett’s name came up among fans. Here’s a look:

“Sam Bennett now and we winning 5 cups in a row,” a fan commented.

“Now lock in Benny,” this fan posted on X.

Paul Maurice and the Panthers will be looking to repeat as Stanley Cup champions this season. The club currently stands in first place in the Atlantic Division entering Tuesday night’s action.

Panthers GM Bill Zito holds Paul Maurice in high regard

Florida Panthers GM Bill Zito has nothing but high regard for Paul Maurice. NHL.com quoted Zito’s remarks on Maurice’s tenure in Florida:

“Paul has resolutely led our organization to unprecedented success during his relatively short tenure in South Florida.”

Zito underscored Maurice’s communication skills as a foundation for his success with the Panthers. Zito stated:

“He is a superb communicator and leader for our staff and players, possessing a keen strategic mind for the game.”

Zito concluded his comments by saying he's looking toward the future with Maurice and his staff.

Maurice’s track record includes over 1,800 NHL games. His 873 wins rank him fourth on the all-time list. Considering that Maurice figures to continue coaching for some time, the all-time wins record could be within reach.

Scotty Bowman tops the all-time coaching wins list with 1,244. With the current Panthers’ core, Maurice has a reasonable chance to catch Bowman. It remains to be seen whether that will be the case.