The Florida Panthers fired coach Kevin Dineen on Friday. Assistant coaches Craig Ramsay and Gord Murphy were also fired.
Dineen’s firing comes one day after a loss to the Boston Bruins, which extended the Panther’s losing streak to seven games. The Panthers are now 14th in the 16 team Eastern Conference. Dineen lead the Panthers to its first division title in his first season with the team. Since then the Panthers haven’t had much success.
''It was clear that our team needed a change in philosophy and direction,'' Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said, according to the Associated Press. "We have not met the expectations that we set forth at training camp and it is my responsibility to make the necessary changes to ensure that our club performs at its maximum potential.'' Tallon added that he believes that his team can still make a run for the playoffs this season.
Dineen spent three seasons with the Panthers. He had a 56-62-28 record with the Panthers, who finished 30th in the NHL last season, according to ProHockey Talk. Peter Horachek from the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage will be the Panthers interim head coach. Horachek had previously worked as an assistant and associate head coach with the Nashville Predators.
The Panther are currently 3-9-4 and will look to end their seven game losing streak on Saturday against Ottawa.