Florida Panthers Launching Deep Search for Head Coach, Andrew Brunette Left in Limbo

The Florida Panthers will have a busy summer, least of all because of their head coaching situation. Just a summer ago, they had not a care in the world as Joel Quenneville manned the Cats' bench on a multi-year contract. With Q at the helm, the Panthers were serious contenders. Flash forward a year later, and they find themselves at a crossroads for their new head coach.

Interim Head Coach Andrew Brunette was a finalist for the Jack Adams Trophy, so what is to be made of him? While on one hand he manned the reigns well given the circumstances of his coronation, the Panthers also succumbed to a nasty fate in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They were swept by the Tampa Bay Lightning, and it was rumored they were clubbing during that series. Not that it is a mortal sin to party during the playoffs, it is just that most teams usually wait until after the playoffs to let 'er rip. No doubt those two factors are weighing on Panthers' management when considering how to maneuver, what with the crop of NHL bench bosses currently up for grabs, namely Barry Trotz. Until a decision is made, however, Brunette is left wondering what his future in Florida is.

According to the DailyFaceoff's Frank Seravalli, the Panthers are weighing a number of options as their head coach.

Any one of those candidates would be a strong option to coach the Panthers if they opt to move in a different direction from Brunette. Brunette, on the other hand, is a piece to watch. If the Panthers ask him to accept an assistant's role, does he accept? He did just finish as a Jack Adams finalist, after all. A situation to monitor this summer.

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