Two savvy coaches lead Final

LAS VEGAS — The joy Paul Maurice felt on the morning of the start of the Stanley Cup Final was also tinged with sadness. The veteran coach knew there were only, at most, seven more games left to play.

He had developed a greater appreciation for this moment with the Florida Panthers, 21 years removed from his first trip to the final.

Bruce Cassidy felt the same way being back as coach of the Vegas Golden Knights four years after falling one win short with Boston.

One of them will hoist the Cup for the first time, and their presence in the final is evidence of why NHL teams looking to win put a priority on experienced coaches. Often derided as “recycled” or “retreads,” coaches like Maurice and Cassidy provide tangible value navigating crucial situations.

“Depending on where your team’s at likely dictates to some extent the decisions that you’re going to make with respect to that position,” said Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon, who fired Peter DeBoer after his team missed the playoffs last year and turned to Cassidy, who was fresh off being dismissed by the Bruins. “We felt for our organization, a successful, experienced coach was the right coach for our team.”

So did the Panthers, who last season won the Presidents’ Trophy as the best team in the regular season and lost in the second round of the playoffs under interim coach Andrew Brunette.

Maurice in December 2021 stepped away from his third NHL job and 24th season with Winnipeg and offered the kind of steady hand GM Bill Zito was looking for to take Florida to the next level of contending for a championship.

“You have the experience, it’s invaluable,” Zito said. “Maybe you’re a little more savvy. And a collective experience that breeds wisdom has significant value.”

Maurice, whose team lost Game 1, 5-2, Saturday will look to even the series Monday.