Panthers’ Paul Maurice, Carter Verhaeghe provide scouting report of ‘elite’ Leafs prior to Game 1

There was nothing but mutual respect between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs prior to Game 1 of their second-round series, although that could dissipate when the puck drops. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice and forward Carter Verhaeghe, among others, provided a candid scouting report of the Maple Leafs ahead of the opening game of the second round.

Florida eliminated Toronto in five games during the 2023 playoffs, which shapes this upcoming clash in many ways. Now entering the series as the defending champions, the balance of power has shifted but the Panthers will be far from complacent Monday.

“They’re an elite team,” Verhaeghe said. “They have a lot of depth. They have a lot of guys who can put the puck in the net. Obviously, a lot of skill and it’s on us to be ready for that and defend and keep the puck out of our net.”

Mitch Marner, who celebrates his 28th birthday Monday, may be the primary focus for the Panthers. Marner is coming off an 102-point season and all eyes on the Maple Leafs’ star winger, as he’s a pending unrestricted free agent at the end of the year.

“He’s a great player,” Verhaeghe said. “He makes really great plays, he’s skilled. He has a really good stick. He’s been here for a long time and obviously scores a lot of goals, a lot of points. He makes plays. He’s someone we definitely have to be aware of.”

Panthers head coach Paul Maurice was asked about how this Maple Leafs team differs under the supervision of head coach Craig Berube. Berube has transformed the Maple Leafs into a defence-first team that minimizes risk, and Maurice seemed to agree with this perception.

“Personnel would be one thing,” Maurice said. “It’s a slightly different looking team than they were, based on the different names on the back. More patience in their game. Maybe in the past, there was an attack mindset offensively all the time. Now, they’re more patient, they’ll put more pucks deep, they’ll be more patient to get pucks out. Maybe a more mature game.”

Although the Maple Leafs will have some familiarity with the Panthers, given that Anthony Stolarz, Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Steven Lorentz joined the team coming off a Stanley Cup victory last summer, Maurice downplayed the importance of this dynamic.

“Between analytics and the video that we get, and the software that we have to break it down, there are just no secrets. The most consistent team is the easiest to pre-scout. Knowing what they do, that doesn’t help anybody.”

The complimentary tone between both teams could reach a freezing point, as the Maple Leafs are looking to advance to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time since 2002, in an all-pivotal year that could determine their long-term outlook. As for the Panthers, they’re looking to repeat as champion for the first time in franchise history, while representing the conference for the third consecutive year. We’re into the elite eight, and it will be another battle to the very end.