Mike Kitchen Opts Out Of Panthers Camp

     Florida Panthers assistant coach Mike Kitchen has opted out from coaching at the Panthers return-to-play training camp in Coral Springs. He will not be in Toronto with the club when they challenge the New York Islanders in the Stanley Cup Qualifier series next month. 

     Kitchen rejoined the Florida Panthers organization when Joel Quenneville was named head coach last year. He worked on Quenneville's coaching staff with the Chicago Blackhawks for seven seasons. The Blackhawks won three Stanley Cup titles in 2011, 2013 and 2015. 

     He played on the same team with Quenneville during his NHL career with the Colorado Avalanche and New Jersey Devils. Kitchen was an assistant coach with Quenneville with the St. Louis Blues from 1998-99 until 2003-04. He was an assistant coach with the Panthers from 2007-08 to 2009-10 under Jacques Martin and Peter DeBoer.