Senators Fire MacLean: Smart or Stupid Decision?
After their 4-3 overtime win over the Vancouver Canucks on home turf at the Canadian Tire Centre last night, the Ottawa Senators have dropped a bombshell. Today was announced that head coach, Paul MacLean has been dismissed after three seasons! So far there has been an massively negative reaction to this decision. Particularly by Senators fans who dearly loved the coach with the most impressive facial hair in the league!
Winner of the Jack Adams Award in 2013 (albeit a lockout shortened season), MacLean has been highly praised for his development of Senators and has guided them to the playoffs twice in only three years, making the second round in 2013. Last season was one to forget in Ottawa as they finished 5th in Atlantic Division with a record of 37-31-14. This season there has been signs of life such as the form of new captain Erik Karlsson and the surprising goal scoring of Clarke MacArthur. Overall the Senators lie 6th in the Atlantic and 10th in the Eastern Conference where they are only two points away from a playoff slot, that doesn't seem an appropriate time to can the boss!
Many experts have picked on MacLean's defensive tactics which have led to them being out shot in previous games. So far they have been out shot 34.4 to 28.8 per game. But this team has never been a well rounded one and their principle strength under MacLean was their ability to sneak wins from the most unlikely scenarios. Their win/loss total so far stands even at 11 wins and 11 losses, but one noticeable flaw is that their Goal Against is lower than Goals For. The Sens have found the net 70 times but also despite the final goaltending of Craig Anderson, they have 74 against!
Paul MacLean has been a coach who has brought about a change to a once fading side and with limited resources at his disposal, he had turned Ottawa into a consistent but not necessarily flashy side. You don't win top prizes by being an average coach and I feel that Senators GM Bryan Murray has blotted his copy book with this choice. The post season wasn't an unlikely dream this season and with a couple of results going their way, the balance could have swung so easily. Also to sack a coach after another come from behind win seems a rather unceremonious way of doing things.
Whoever takes the place of this man on the Senators bench will have a big void to fill, also winning over fans at the Canadian Tire Centre will be difficult in the coming months. I really hope another team picks up MacLean as quickly as possible because he is not only great at turning around sides, but he brings a classy look to proceedings! All the best from both of us here Paul.
Winner of the Jack Adams Award in 2013 (albeit a lockout shortened season), MacLean has been highly praised for his development of Senators and has guided them to the playoffs twice in only three years, making the second round in 2013. Last season was one to forget in Ottawa as they finished 5th in Atlantic Division with a record of 37-31-14. This season there has been signs of life such as the form of new captain Erik Karlsson and the surprising goal scoring of Clarke MacArthur. Overall the Senators lie 6th in the Atlantic and 10th in the Eastern Conference where they are only two points away from a playoff slot, that doesn't seem an appropriate time to can the boss!
Many experts have picked on MacLean's defensive tactics which have led to them being out shot in previous games. So far they have been out shot 34.4 to 28.8 per game. But this team has never been a well rounded one and their principle strength under MacLean was their ability to sneak wins from the most unlikely scenarios. Their win/loss total so far stands even at 11 wins and 11 losses, but one noticeable flaw is that their Goal Against is lower than Goals For. The Sens have found the net 70 times but also despite the final goaltending of Craig Anderson, they have 74 against!
Paul MacLean has been a coach who has brought about a change to a once fading side and with limited resources at his disposal, he had turned Ottawa into a consistent but not necessarily flashy side. You don't win top prizes by being an average coach and I feel that Senators GM Bryan Murray has blotted his copy book with this choice. The post season wasn't an unlikely dream this season and with a couple of results going their way, the balance could have swung so easily. Also to sack a coach after another come from behind win seems a rather unceremonious way of doing things.
Whoever takes the place of this man on the Senators bench will have a big void to fill, also winning over fans at the Canadian Tire Centre will be difficult in the coming months. I really hope another team picks up MacLean as quickly as possible because he is not only great at turning around sides, but he brings a classy look to proceedings! All the best from both of us here Paul.
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