Former head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs Paul Maurice has signed a one-year contract to coach Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia.
Maurice began the 2011-12 season with the Hurricanes but after going 8-13-4 he was replaced by former NHLer Kirk Muller.
The 45-year-old began his NHL coaching career with the Hartford Whalers in 1995 prior to the franchise moving to Carolina. He spent the better part of seven years in Carolina before being fired during the 2003-04 season. Maurice spent 2006-2008 as the Maple Leafs coach but after missing the playoffs two consecutive years he was let go.
In December 2008 he was hired for a second stint with the Hurricanes, where he led the team to the Eastern Conference finals.
After coaching 1,084 National Hockey League games the Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., native has a record of 460-457-99-69.
Maurice holds the distinction of being the youngest person to coach 1,000 games in the NHL and is the winningest coach in Hurricanes history.
Joining Maurice in Russia will be former NHL goalie Tom Barrasso, who was an assistant and goalie coach in Carolina.
When told about this, New Jersey Devils bench boss Peter DeBoer said Friday: “I think that’s great. This is a guy that coached 15 years in the NHL. Having had the opportunity to coach overseas in different events, they’re great learning experiences. You do nothing but come back a better coach any time you can broaden your horizons like that. I think Paul is a fantastic coach. A lot like Bob Hartley, I’m sure we’ll see him back here. It will be a bidding war for him a year or two from now in the NHL again.”
