Finnish national coach Jukka Jalonen name to watch in Panthers' coaching search

The Florida Panthers are exploring all avenues as they search for their next head coach, including less traveled paths.

Sources tell Daily Faceoff that the Panthers are taking a close look at Finnish coach Jukka Jalonen.

Jalonen, 59, has a wealth of experience at the pro and international levels. He coached HPK of the Finnish Liiga in the early 2000s, winning a league championship in 2005-06 before getting behind the bench in the KHL for two seasons with SKA St. Petersburg and two more with Jokerit. Jalonen is best known as a staple coaching the Finnish national team on and off since 2008. He led the Finns to a gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and also coached them to bronze at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Finland has won three World Championships with Jalonen as coach and took home World Junior Championship gold under his watch with one of the all-time great teams at the tournament in 2016. 

When the Panthers cleaned out their coaching staff last week, Finnish-born assistant coach Tuomo Ruutu was the only one they retained. The Panthers’ NHL core also includes Finnish centers Aleksander Barkov, Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen.

As reported by Daily Faceoff last week, the Panthers’ growing list of interviewees for the head coaching job includes Barry Trotz, Travis Green, Rick Tocchet, and potentially Paul Maurice and Pete DeBoer (since linked to the Dallas Stars but not yet signed). Meanwhile, interim coach and Jack Adams Award finalist Andrew Brunette awaits his fate.

The Panthers won the Presidents’ Trophy in 2021-22, setting a franchise record with 122 points and scoring more goals than any other team in 26 years, but they were unceremoniously swept by the Tampa Bay Lightning in Round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs.