Paul MacLean
 Ottawa Senators - Head Coach		 [ Back to Coaches Index ]
The Ottawa Senators named their fifth head coach in four seasons on Tuesday, June 14, 2011 with the hiring of Detroit Red Wings assistant Paul MacLean during a news conference at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa.

MacLean replaces Cory Clouston, who was fired in April after the team failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second time in three seasons. In Ottawa, MacLean will be working hand-in-hand with General Manager Bryan Murray, his old boss in Anaheim.

Previous to his time in Detroit, MacLean served as an assistant on Babcock’s staff with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim from 2002-04.  In their first season together, Babcock and MacLean led the Ducks to their first ever Stanley Cup Final appearance.  The pair would return to the Final again five years later with Detroit in 2008.  The Red Wings defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games, securing the first Stanley Cup championship of MacLean’s career.  Detroit would win the Western Conference title again in 2009, marking the third time in his six seasons as an NHL assistant coach that MacLean helped guide his team to the Stanley Cup Final.

Prior to the joining the Anaheim coaching staff in 2002, the Antigonish, Nova Scotia native was head coach of the Quad City Mallards of the United Hockey League (UHL) from 2000-02. He led the Mallards to a two-season record of 112-27-9 (.787 winning percentage) and the 2001 Colonial Cup championship.

MacLean was the head coach of the International Hockey League’s (IHL) Kansas City Blades from 1997-2000. He spent one season as an assistant coach with the Phoenix Coyotes in 1996-97 and was head coach at Peoria (IHL) from 1993-96. While with Peoria, MacLean was named the Hockey News Minor League Coach of the Year in 1994 after leading the Rivermen to a 51-24-6 mark and a division title. He was also a scout with the St. Louis Blues for two seasons from 1991-93.

A power play specialist, MacLean spent 11 seasons in the NHL as a player with Winnipeg, Detroit and St. Louis from 1980-91. He played in 719 NHL regular season games, scoring 324 goals and adding 349 assists for 673 points. He also appeared in 53 playoff games. Spending most of his playing career with Winnipeg (1981-87), MacLean had a career-high 101 points (41-61—101) in 1984-85 and was named to the Campbell Conference All-Star Team.

Paul and his wife Sharon have two sons, A.J. & David, and a daughter, Erin.