When the final horn sounded in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final between the Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes, fans expected the traditional handshake line—one of the NHL’s most revered post-series rituals. But as the Panthers celebrated their return to the Stanley Cup Final and the Hurricanes began to digest another season’s abrupt end, many noticed something missing: the coaches never took part in the handshake line.
Typically, following the conclusion of a playoff series, both players and coaches line up to exchange handshakes—a symbolic act of sportsmanship and mutual respect. But this time, Florida’s Paul Maurice and Carolina’s Rod Brind’Amour remained absent from the tradition, raising questions and sparking debates among fans and analysts. Was it a snub? An oversight? Or something more deliberate?
In the aftermath, both Maurice and Brind’Amour addressed the absence, making it clear that the decision was intentional—but not out of disrespect.
“We didn’t shake hands because we wanted the spotlight to be on the players,” Maurice explained in a post-series media availability. “They’re the ones who bled for six games. They’re the ones who fought, blocked shots, and laid it all on the line. This was their moment, and I didn’t want to insert myself into that. It wasn’t about making a statement—it was about staying out of the way.”
Brind’Amour, whose Hurricanes fell just short in a hard-fought series, echoed similar sentiments. “I’ve got nothing but respect for Paul, for his team, for the way they played,” he said. “But at that moment, it felt like it wasn’t about me. It was about my guys, who battled through injuries and adversity. I met with Paul afterward—no bad blood, no drama. We’ve known each other a long time. It was a quiet understanding.”
Indeed, both coaches have shared a long history. Maurice, once the head coach in Carolina, mentored Brind’Amour during his playing days with the Hurricanes. Their relationship stretches beyond bench rivalry and into personal respect. For Maurice, watching Brind’Amour guide Carolina with such poise has been a testament to the man he once coached. For Brind’Amour, Maurice remains one of the NHL’s most cerebral minds.
“I don’t think people understand how tight-knit the coaching fraternity is,” Maurice added. “We texted before the series. We talked about our teams. There’s a lot of mutual appreciation. I didn’t need a handshake to affirm that.”
The absence of the handshake wasn’t a moment of controversy within NHL circles either. League sources confirmed that there’s no official requirement for coaches to participate in the post-series ritual, and in recent years, it’s become increasingly common for coaches to defer the moment to their players—especially in emotionally charged playoff series.
Still, the gesture—or lack thereof—sparked discussion across social media and hockey forums. Some fans were quick to criticize what they perceived as a lack of sportsmanship, while others defended the coaches’ decision, especially after their explanations emerged.
“This is playoff hockey,” one former player commented on a sports talk show. “By the end of a series like that, emotions are raw. You’re exhausted, you’re proud, you’re heartbroken, depending on the side you’re on. Sometimes, stepping aside is the most respectful thing you can do.”
For both Brind’Amour and Maurice, the Eastern Conference Final was more than a test of X’s and O’s. It was a display of grit, tactical brilliance, and resilience. Their teams played fast, physical hockey, with the series turning on crucial saves, power plays, and razor-thin margins.
Florida emerged as the more clinical team, capitalizing on turnovers and riding another sensational playoff performance from goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. Carolina, meanwhile, was plagued by missed opportunities, including a late goalpost in Game 5 that could’ve changed the series trajectory.
But beyond tactics and execution, the series carried an emotional weight. For Brind’Amour, it marked another near miss—his third trip to the Eastern Conference Final as Carolina’s bench boss, and yet again falling short. For Maurice
