Following the Florida Panthers` victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final, neither head coach participated in the traditional post-game handshake line. A brief on-ice interaction between Florida`s Paul Maurice and Carolina`s Rod Brind`Amour garnered attention, but Maurice later clarified that this absence was intentional, not a sign of disrespect.
Maurice explained his reasoning after the game. “It`s a personal belief, and I really appreciate what he [Brind`Amour] did, because there`s a bit of a risk,” he stated. “I don`t believe that the coaches should shake players` hands at the end. There`s this long list of people in suits and track suits… We had like 400 people on the ice. They`re all really important to our group. But not one of them was in the game.”
Florida overcame a 2-0 deficit after the first period of Game 5 to defeat Carolina 5-3, securing their spot in the Stanley Cup Final. As the players began lining up for the customary handshakes, Maurice and Brind`Amour met near the benches for a brief but animated conversation where they mutually decided that the moment should belong solely to the players.
“There`s something visually impactful for me when the camera is focused solely on the players – the men who played, blocked shots, and fought for each other,” Maurice elaborated. “It`s the end of one team`s season and a moment of excitement for the other… The last thing a Carolina Hurricanes player deserves is to shake hands with 50 more guys in suits they don`t know. There`s something really beautiful about just seeing the players shake hands. And we should respect that.”
Maurice mentioned having a similar discussion with Toronto coach Craig Berube after their second-round series earlier in May, noting that both Berube and Brind`Amour, being former players themselves, understood his perspective.
“I don`t know when this tradition changed,” Maurice commented. “When I first entered the league, you wouldn`t want to shake the players` hands. I can only assume some coach wanted camera time… I don`t know when it shifted, but I don`t think it`s correct… Considering the intense competition on the ice, going hard against each other, and yet they shake hands like that – that`s special. They aren`t exactly exchanging Christmas cards; it`s a tough game out there. There`s something truly special about that player handshake.”
