During the Milan-Cortina Olympics, rumors circulated about the Finnish men's ice hockey team and the possibility of Florida Panthers' head coach Paul Maurice joining their coaching staff. Jere Lehtinen, the general manager of the Finnish team, acknowledged that he was 'kind of aware' of discussions regarding Maurice's involvement, but nothing came of these talks. This suggests that while there is interest, it has not led to any formal negotiations.

In response to the speculation, Maurice humorously commented to Sportsnet that he received a flurry of text messages regarding the situation. He clarified that there was a misunderstanding as he was confused with Tuomo Ruutu, another coach associated with both the Florida Panthers and the Lions. Maurice's light-hearted remarks indicate a detachment from the situation and suggest that he does not intend to pursue a coaching role with the Finnish national team.

Emphasizing his perspective, Maurice stated that Finland has an abundance of talented coaches who do not require his expertise. This comment highlights a sense of respect for the existing coaching talent in Finland and indicates his passion lies elsewhere, distancing himself from the role that many Finnish fans may expect him to fill.