BREAKING: Former Florida Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville Brandon who stepped down as head coach of the Panthers after meeting with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, Sent a stunning message to current head coach Paul Maurice and the entire Panthers club concerning……….read more

In a dramatic and unexpected turn, former Florida Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville, who stepped down from his position after a meeting with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman in 2021 amid fallout from the Chicago Blackhawks investigation, has sent a stunning and heartfelt message to current head coach Paul Maurice and the entire Panthers organization.

The message, which Quenneville shared both privately with the team and later posted to social media, has quickly gone viral among Panthers fans.

> “Hockey is about trust, resilience, and family,” Quenneville wrote. “Whatever challenges you face this year, know that you have what it takes. Paul—you’re a tremendous leader. To the players—compete with pride, honor the crest, and bring that Cup home to Florida.”

Quenneville’s words come at a critical time, as the Panthers continue to chase Stanley Cup glory under Maurice’s leadership. The team fell just short in recent playoff runs, and pressure has been mounting to deliver a championship to South Florida.

Panthers GM Bill Zito called the message “completely unexpected but genuinely appreciated,” saying the team welcomed Quenneville’s gesture of support.

Paul Maurice also addressed the message in his morning skate press conference:

> “That’s big of Joel. He’s won at the highest level. It means a lot that he’d take the time to say that. Our guys have seen it, and they respect it.”

Players reportedly circulated the message in their group chat, with one veteran saying:

> “You don’t expect that. He didn’t have to say anything at all. But it’s a reminder of the standard and the tradition we’re trying to build here.”

While Quenneville remains out of the league pending further discussion with the NHL over his eligibility to return behind a bench, his comments have reignited debate about his legacy. But for the Panthers, the focus now is on the ice—and on channeling the unity and determination that even their former coach urged them to embrace.

Fans online have been split, with many praising Quenneville’s gesture as classy and others questioning its timing. But inside the Panthers’ locker room, the message is being seen as a call to arms: to finish what the franchise has started and finally lift Lord Stanley’s Cup.