Paul Morris wasn’t aware he would be joining the NHL again this time last year. The head coach stunned everyone in December 2021 when he left the Winnipeg Jets and gave up hockey altogether. When NHL.com’s Mike Zeisberger finally spoke with Morris on Friday, he finally spoke about what ultimately led him to make that choice.
This may be a very simplistic answer, but it is true. he told NHL.com. “I lost my love for the game. It was affecting me. And I found it again.”
“This year has been challenging for everything we have been through. But at the same time it has been fun for me.”
“I lost my love for the game. It was affecting me. And I found it again.”
– # flappanther Coach Paul Morris opens up on this 1v1 game when he walks away from the game, why the Fla was the perfect fit for his return and what makes Matthew Tkachuk tick.https://t.co/G7io155jfO
– Mike Zeisberger (@Zeisberger) May 5, 2023
The Florida Panthers, who hired him as their head coach prior to the 2022-2023 season, presented him with the new job. The Panthers are already in the second round and are ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs 2-0 despite a tough season and battle for a spot in the playoffs. However, Morris wasn’t sure he wanted the job when the call arrived to accept it for the first time.
“It’s funny how life goes. It was early June. Everything was perfect. I wasn’t really missing out on anything. I wasn’t craving anything. I had two teams going with me from the time I stepped down to the time I got back. It was easy for Lee. I didn’t see a fit. I wasn’t interested. I’m fine. Then GM called Bill Zito from the Panthers. He said, “I just see what your interest is.” And I said, “I’m interested in the Florida Panthers.”
It was the first time Morris had ever jumped back in the saddle, although he admitted how exhausted he felt leaving the planes and people had no idea how bad it was.
“The answer is no. It’s also something I won’t go into detail on. The most succinct I can put it is: I needed to be off the bench for me personally.”
It’s hard not to love Maurice. In his post-game press conferences, he is always open and honest, and his current run with the Panthers is entertaining. And again, in his conversation with Zeisberger, you find additional reasons to be fond of him.