There are a plethora of former Florida players that have continued their careers in the NHL as coaches
A pair of former Florida Panthers were in the news this week for being hired onto NHL coaching staffs.
Mike Van Ryn was hired as an assistant coach by the Toronto Maple Leafs and Kirk Muller was named an assistant coach by the Washington Capitals.
Longtime Cats fans will remember Muller from his time with the team in the late 90s. He joined Florida the year after they made their initial Stanley Cup Final run in a late season trade with Toronto for Jason Podollan.
Muller stayed with the Panthers for another two seasons, accumulating 13 goals and 47 points in 162 games in South Florida.
The Panthers initially acquired Van Ryn in a trade with St. Louis for Valeri Bure and a fifth-round pick in March of 2004.
He logged 13 goals and 37 points in his first season with Florida, and after a solid post-lockout season, Van Ryn was given a four-year extension by the Panthers.
A couple years later in September of 2008 Van Ryn was traded to Toronto for Bryan McCabe and a fourth-round pick.
There are plenty of former Panthers who have found their way onto NHL benches over the years.
Currently working in the league, just to name a few, are John Madden and Cory Stillman in Arizona, Dave Lowry in Seattle, Derek MacKenzie in Nashville and Sean Burke in Vegas.
As for former Panthers head coaches still in the league, you’ve got Peter DeBoer in Dallas, Bob Boughner in Detroit, Andrew Brunette in Nashville and Lindy Ruff in Dallas.