"We have assembled a talented coaching staff with unique perspectives and a wealth of hockey experience," said Quenneville. "I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to work with a proven coach and a quality person like Mike Kitchen again, as well as Andrew Brunette who is a bright, young, hockey mind who I coached as a player. It's exciting to welcome former Panthers captain Derek MacKenzie to our staff as he enters the NHL coaching ranks following a great playing career. Together with longtime goaltending coach Robb Tallas, we are motivated by the task ahead of us. Our staff is eager to begin working towards our goal of bringing playoff hockey back to South Florida."
Kitchen, 63, has over 25 years of NHL coaching experience having served as an assistant coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs (1989-90 to 2003-04), St. Louis Blues (1998-99 to 2003-04), Florida Panthers (2007-08 to 2009-10) and Chicago Blackhawks (2010-11 to 2016-17). He served as head coach of St. Louis from 2003-04 to 2006-07.
The native of Newmarket, Ontario, Kitchen previously served as an assistant coach under Quenneville in both St. Louis and Chicago. With the Blues, Quenneville and Kitchen led the club to a franchise record 114-point campaign and the President's Trophy in 1999-00. Kitchen and Quenneville won the Stanley Cup together with the Blackhawks in 2013 and 2015.
He recently served as an assistant coach for Team Canada at the 2018 Spengler Cup Tournament.
Originally selected by the Kansas City Scouts in the third round (38th overall) of the 1976 NHL Draft, Kitchen appeared in 474 career NHL games for the Colorado Rockies/New Jersey Devils (1976-77 to 1983-84), producing 74 points (12-62-74).
Kitchen and Quenneville, both defensemen, played four seasons together with Colorado/New Jersey (1979-80 to 1982-83).
Brunette, 45, has spent the previous seven seasons with the Minnesota Wild organization serving in multiple different capacities including Director of Player Personnel, Assistant General Manager, Assistant Coach and Special Assistant to the General Manager.
The longtime NHL forward appeared in 1,109 NHL games for the Washington Capitals (1995-96 to 1997-98), Nashville Predators (1998-99), Atlanta Thrashers (1999-00 to 2000-01), Minnesota Wild (2001-02 to 2003-04, 2008-09 to 2010-11), Colorado Avalanche (2005-06 to 2007-08), and Chicago Blackhawks (2011-12). He was originally selected by Washington in the seventh round (174th overall) of the 1993 NHL Draft.
The native of Sudbury, Ontario played his final NHL season in Chicago under Quenneville.
MacKenzie, 37, completed his final NHL season in 2018-19 with the Panthers after a season-ending shoulder injury. Throughout 2018-19, while recovering from injury, MacKenzie assisted the Panthers coaching staff in an unofficial assistant coaching role.
The native of Sudbury, Ontario played five seasons for the Panthers (2014-15 to 2018-19) serving as captain for two seasons (2016-17 to 2017-18). MacKenzie played 304 games with Florida, producing 54 points (20-34-54).
A veteran of 1,161 professional games, MacKenzie played 611 career NHL games for the Atlanta Thrashers (2001-02 to 2006-07), Columbus Blue Jackets (2007-08 to 2013-14) and Florida Panthers (2014-15 to 2018-19), registering 125 points (51-74-125). He was originally selected by Atlanta in the fifth round (128th overall) of the 1999 NHL Draft.
2019-20 Season Tickets are available now. Join our territory to enjoy exclusive savings on select BB&T Center concessions, a 25% merchandise discount at Pantherland store and priority access to BB&T Center concerts and events. Visit FloridaPanthers.com/TicketCentral or call 954-835-PUCK (7825) for more information.
