Florida Panthers make changes to their coaching staff.

The Florida Panthers have made some significant changes to their coaching staff.

According to a breaking news report from former National Hockey League goaltender turned NHL insider Kevin Weekes, the Panthers have parted ways with two members of their coaching staff, both of whom are also former NHL players. According to Weekes, both Ulf Samuelson and Derek McKenzie have been let go in spite of the fact that both men are still listed as assistant coaches on the Panthers' official website.

It is unclear what this might mean for Panthers head coach Andrew Brunette, who took over for former Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville after he resigned as part of the fallout from the inquiry into the Chicago Blackhawks abuse scandal in October of 2021. Brunette performed admirably as Quenneville's replacement and would lead the Panthers to the best regular season record in franchise history and was even in the running for the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's top coach, an award that would eventually be won by head coach Darryl Sutter of the Calgary Flames.

In spite of his success though Brunette has not been rewarded with a new deal and according to this latest update from Weekes there's been "no word" on a commitment or a contract for Brunette from the Panthers. Weekes also indicated that he was uncertain regarding the future of goaltending coach Robb Tallas, adding that there was also "no word" regarding a contract or a commitment being offered to Tallas.

In spite of their success during the regular season, you can't ignore the fact that the Panthers did not achieve the success they had hoped for during the Stanley Cup playoffs. In spite of the expectation that they would be among the top contenders for a championship, especially following some of their acquisitions around the trade deadline, the Panthers were swept by long time rivals the Tampa Bay Lightning.

It's fair to wonder if the way the playoffs ended for the Panthers, at the hands of such a bitter rival no less, may be playing a role in how the Panthers have handled their coaching staff in the offseason thus far.