Paul Maurice opens up about a former Panther who finally got his chance

Paul Maurice has been genuinely happy to see Sourdif land on his feet in Washington after three years in the Panthers organization. The coach's point is simple, the kid worked, but Florida was crowded and his breaks were rough.

Sourdif arrived as a third-round pick, 87th overall in 2020, and most of his growth happened in Charlotte with the Checkers. In 2023-24 he put up 38 points in 58 AHL games, showing real touch without cheating shifts.

Then came the kind of luck that makes coaches sigh. In September 2024, Sourdif crashed hard into the boards during practice, needed stitches, and Maurice said he was looking at three or four weeks out.

As a Panthers fan, those are the players you remember, because you could see the effort even when the minutes were scarce.

His NHL looks in Florida were brief but meaningful for a young forward trying to stick. He made his debut in October 2023, then logged three games that season, learning the league without a long runway.

The production kept coming in the minors, and it's why Washington paid attention. In 2024-25 he scored 34 points in 43 AHL games, then added 10 points in 18 playoff games during Charlotte's Calder Cup run.

He also got one clean NHL moment to hold onto, a goal in his lone Panthers appearance in 2024-25, scored Feb. 25 at Nashville. That's the kind of snapshot players carry through long development years.

Washington acquired him last June, then signed him to a two-year, $1.65 million deal, a sign they want him in the mix, not just in the system. For Sourdif, the opportunity is the point.

For Florida, it's bittersweet, because he grew up here as a pro, even if the door never stayed open long. Now Panthers fans get to watch a familiar name chase a real role, and it's hard not to root for that.