How Nate Schmidt and Gustav Forsling have flourished in the Florida Panthers' system

Time of India

07-06-2025

Image Via Getty
In South Florida, an unofficial haven is being created in the NHL for defensemen looking to regain confidence. For Schmidt, the opportunity to blend into the newly formed Florida Panthers lineup was, in some ways, a release.
Schmidt is not alone herein this the seasoned Gustav Forsling, with Dmitry Kulikov and others, could equally attest that theirs is a defense-oriented culture of the Panthers. The underlying factor behind this phenomenon is the coaching intervention of Paul Maurice and Sylvain Lefebvre, an environment that values experience, is liberating in its structure, and encourages the player to retain his individuality.
Paul Maurice-Sylvain Lefebvre's way of turning defensive veterans into gems
Unlike many teams in the NHL that stick players in rigid roles, the Panthers have created a definition of defensive excellence that honors a player's right to simply be himself, with structure imposed, never suffocation. Confidence in assistant coach Sylvain Lefebvre is the cornerstone of Paul Maurice's philosophy. A Stanley Cup champion, Lefebvre brought to his coaching the player perspective from knowing the grind from both behind the bench and on the ice.
Small matters of defense contributed by Lefebvre—stick positioning, aggression at the blue line, net-front coverage—have provided an adjustment for both rookies and the likes of Seth Jones. According to Jones himself, ever since the trade out of Chicago in March, he says that daily video sessions with Lefebvre and his patient approach helped him tweak certain things in his game that Jones himself neglected to work on for the longest of times.
Nate Schmidt, previously guided by Maurice in Winnipeg, has found his groove once again in Florida. The tandem of coaches is given credit for letting Schmidt play his natural game without putting any unnecessary constraints on him. Gustav Forsling and Dmitry Kulikov, both of whom played very important roles in Florida's trip to the 2023 Stanley Cup, echoed such sentiments. It's not about regenerating players; it's about reminding them of their former selves at their best.
Even Zito, the Panthers' GM, admits that defensemen almost always improve after arriving in Florida. There is an environment of togetherness, not competition, and Maurice does not micromanage the blue line because he trusts Lefebvre. Those same expectations have trickled down to the players.
While Aaron Ekblad, the No. 1 pick of 2014, is considered local talent, the defensive unit otherwise does not consist of homegrown players, yet this unit operates as one.
This system welcomes players on board with ease due to the fact that its foundation is egalitarian in terms of accommodating various styles of play; it favors speed and aggression.
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The Florida Panthers are not just building an NHL front team while running a career rejuvenation clinic for defensemen. With Paul Maurice and Sylvain Lefebvre paying close attention to every detail, players like Nate Schmidt, Gustav Forsling, and Dmitry Kulikov aren't just fitting in; they are thriving.