As was broken by Bob MacKenzie on Twitter just before 2pm Monday, and subsequently by everyone else, Paul MacLean has been hired as the new Sens head coach. Press conference officially announcing the three year deal was Tuesday morning.
MacLean was born March 9, 1958 in Grostenquin, France and raised in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. As summarized by an AP article on the Globe & Mail website:
MacLean has spent the past five years as an assistant in Detroit, helping the team win the championship in 2008. He and Red Wings coach Mike Babcock also worked together for two years in Anaheim, taking the Ducks to the Stanley Cup finals.
MacLean spent 11 seasons in the NHL, playing in 719 games for Winnipeg, Detroit and St. Louis from 1980-91. He finished with 324 goals and 349 assists.
Prior to the joining the Anaheim coaching staff in 2002, the Antigonish, N.S., native was head coach of the Quad City Mallards of the United Hockey League. He also spent time coaching minor league teams in Kansas City and Peoria, Ill., and has been both an assistant coach with the Phoenix Coyotes and a scout for the St. Louis Blues.
Rumour has it that Biongo’s Kurt Kleinendorst and former Edmonton coach Craig MacTavish were the other two interviewees in the top 3.
Monday morning on Team 1200 Pierre McGuire mentioned that Kleinendorst may be a good fit to assist MacLean. Then, later in the day, Bruce Garrioch reported that Dave Cameron and Mark Reeds are in the running for the assistant jobs.
Two league sources weren’t sure where Mississauga Ice Dogs coach Dave Cameron, who was also interviewed for the coaching job, fit in the picture, if at all. The word is MacLean might want to go in a different direction, but is considering Cameron.
A source said MacLean would like to hire Owen Sound Attack coach Mark Reeds, whose club beat Cameron’s Ice Dogs in the OHL final. Reeds and MacLean worked together in Peoria in the IHL.
And, in case you were worried, the Ottawa Sun has kindly confirmed that Patrick Lalime supports MacLean’s hiring. Phew!
