NHL News
Paul MacLean Hired as New Assistant With Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs officially announced that Paul MacLean was hired as an assistant coach on Friday. He’ll take on the eye-in-the-sky role.
This new hire by the Toronto Maple Leafs almost certainly rules out any chances the team will be bringing in Bruce Boudreau to the coaching staff. On Friday, a new coach was added as the Maple Leafs officially announced on their social media pages and website that Paul MacLean was hired as an assistant coach.
Related: Maple Leafs Hire Malhotra As Assistant Coach, Boudreau Out?
This news comes after the team added former player Manny Malhotra to the assistant coaching staff as well. As per the team’s official release, the Maple Leafs talked about MacLean’s experience in the NHL and how that was of the utmost importance as a organization.
“Over nearly two decades as an NHL coach, Paul has filled every role on a coaching staff, winning a Stanley Cup and Jack Adams trophy along the way,” said Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe. “Adding someone of Paul’s expertise and character to advise and assist our staff is something that we felt was very important as we seek to make tangible steps next season.”
MacLean spent the 2019-20 season as an assistant coach with the Columbus Blue Jackets and previously served as the head coach of the Ottawa Senators from 2011 to 2015. He led the Senators to a 114-90-35 record and the team appeared in the playoffs twice under his guidance. It was easily the best the Senators organization has looked in the last few seasons.
Early speculation is that MacLean won’t be on the bench with the team but will instead serve as an “eye-in-the-sky” from the press box, according to Jonas Siegel of The Athletic. Essentially, he and Malhotra will switch roles as Malhotra goes from that job in Vancouver to one on the bench with the Maple Leafs this upcoming season.
The Toronto Connections Past and Present Are Ironic
MacLean’s connections to former Leaf staff or potential candidates for the job is interesting. He actually served for several years in Detroit under head coach Mike Babcock, who current Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe replaced last season. He has also worked with Bruce Boudreau in Anaheim, and Boudreau was rumored to be among the candidates for an assistant coaching position with the Maple Leafs this coming season.
MacLean is the father of Toronto Marlies assistant coach A.J., who is one of Sheldon Keefe’s best friends and has worked with him for more than a decade. It’s not a certainly, but one would guess that player a role in the hiring today.
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