Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice tendered his resignation on Friday morning, with Dave Lowry set to take over as the interim coach.
The Jets released this statement on the matter:
This is a somewhat shocking move after Maurice signed a contract extension in early 2020. Maurice joined the Jets as head coach in 2014, replacing Claude Noel. He led the franchise to its first playoff appearance since the relocation from Atlanta in the 2014-15 season, though Winnipeg got swept by the Anaheim Ducks.
That was followed by two straight seasons of not qualifying for the playoffs, but Maurice then led the Jets to the postseason in four straight campaigns, including a run to the Western Conference Finals in 2018 after finishing with 114 points in the regular season. Winnipeg lost to the Las Vegas Golden Knights in that series.
The Jets are off to sluggish start this season and have lost two consecutive games, but they aren't an awful team. They hold a 13-10-5 record for 31 points, which has them in fifth place in the Central Division.
As for Paul Maurice, he's still just 54 years old and could look for another job. He began his NHL head coaching career at just 28 years old with the Hartford Whalers, becoming the second-youngest coach in league history. He currently holds the record for youngest coach to reach 1,000 wins in the NHL.