Paul MacLean officially announced as new Ottawa Senators’ head coach –NHL Offseason Updates
It was rumoured earlier this week that Paul MacLean was being offered the position, but it was officially announced by Ottawa Senators’ team management that MacLean would be taking over the position of the head coach of the team with immediate effect on
Tuesday, June 13th.
MacLean, former assistant coach of Detroit Red Wings, had been serving under legendary coach, Mike Babcock, for the past five seasons and has now transferred to Ottawa Senators, in dire need of visionary leadership.
"I think it's important in the NHL today that the coach and players communicate", MacLean said in a news conference on Tuesday. "Communication with the players is important in empowering them and having them invest in what you're trying to do and what you're
trying to accomplish. It's not me against them. It's us -- the Ottawa Senators -- against the rest of the league".
The announcement was officially made on Tuesday morning in Ottawa during a press conference by the team.
The step came in order to fill in the gap left by the elimination of Cory Clouston in April, the former coach, because of his inability to lead Ottawa Senators to the playoffs in two of the three seasons he was in charge.
Looking at the previous season, Senators finished in the lowest ranks of the Eastern Conference and was nowhere near the playoff’s race in the end.
"After a poor season, the need for change was obvious", Ottawa’s general manager, Bryan Murray, said. "I felt Paul fit the profile (of what the team needed). He'd been a player, been a head coach, been an assistant coach in the National Hockey League. He's
been a winner everywhere he's been. ... I think he brings energy, experience, expertise and people skills, most importantly".
The best aspect of MacLean’s work experience is that he will be able to bring along with him the tactics he has used to help Detroit reach such heights.
The 53-year-old was part of the 2008 Stanley Cup winning team and also led Detroit to the playoffs in six straight seasons he was in charge of the team.
This move has been made as part of Senators’ process of rejuvenating itself for the upcoming season and there are still a number of steps which are expected to be taken in the next few months of the offseason.
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