Florida Panthers A.J. Greer chases a career milestone and his wish is clear

Paul Maurice basically said the quiet part out loud in Miami, he thinks Greer is playing the best hockey he's played since arriving in Florida. Coming from a coach who rarely hands out gold stars, that lands.

Greer smiled when he heard the quote, then explained why it feels different right now. He said the game is «slowing down» for him, and that maturity is finally showing up shift to shift.

As a fan, I love this stuff, because you can feel when a depth guy stops surviving and starts driving.

Greer is 29, he's from Joliette, Qc, and Colorado took him 39th overall in 2015. It has been a long road through multiple stops, and he wears that experience like armor now.

He's producing more than people expect from his usual role, with seven goals and 15 points through 44 games. Even better, he's doing it without ditching the edge that got him here, with 59 penalty minutes already.

Last season he had 17 points in 81 games, so he's right on the doorstep of a personal best. That jump matters on a Panthers team that has needed extra offense from the middle of the lineup at times.

Greer ties his confidence to the biggest line on his resume, the Stanley Cup ring. He reminded everyone he won in June 2025, and that kind of playoff pressure can change how a player carries himself in October.

Maurice also likes how Greer handles bigger minutes without trying to turn into someone else. He pointed out that some guys get promoted and start playing «safe,» but Greer keeps his identity and stays direct.

The business side is real too, because his deal expires after this season. The Panthers signed him on July 1, 2024 for two years at an $850,000 cap hit, and he can be a UFA when it ends.

Greer said he wants to keep his career going with Florida, and you can hear it in the way he talks about the room. It's not a negotiating line, it sounds like a guy who finally found a fit and doesn't want to lose it.

If he keeps playing this hard and keeps chipping in offense, Bill Zito is going to have a real decision to make. Fans already know where they stand, you don't let a glue guy like this walk without a fight.

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