As the quest goes on to get the Maple Leafs more players with a winning pedigree and Stanley Cup credentials, they have added another coach with those needed qualities.
Paul MacLean, the 2013 Jack Adams Award recipient with Ottawa and 2008 Cup champion as a Detroit assistant, joined the Leafs on Friday. But before anyone ponders how the Leafs will fit head coach Sheldon Keefe, incumbent assistant Dave Hakstol, plus newcomers MacLean and Manny Malhotra behind one bench, the plan is apparently to have MacLean do the bulk of his work at practice, in meetings and around game day skates, to be a sounding board in all areas, and an eye in the sky on game nights.
The 62-year-old MacLean was with the Columbus Blue Jackets’ staff under John Tortorella last season. Columbus ousted the Leafs in last month’s opening playoff round. He was primarily hired to help the Jackets’ power play.
He and Keefe know each other from the latter’s days running the Tier II Pembroke Lumber Kings, down the road from Ottawa where MacLean coached the Senators from 2011-15. MacLean’s son, A.J., is an assistant with Toronto’s AHL Marlies where Keefe was prior to promotion by the Leafs.
“Over nearly two decades as an NHL coach, Paul has filled every role on a staff,” Keefe said in a club statement. “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.”
Before Columbus, MacLean led the Sens to a record of 114-90-35 and a pair of playoff appearances. He also served two stints as assistant for the Anaheim Ducks, ‘02 to 04 and ‘15-17, between his days in Detroit (‘05-11). His Cup victory came on ex-Leaf Mike Babcock’s staff, having also appeared in the ‘03 and ‘09 finals under the same coach.
Born in Grostenquin, France while his father served on a Royal Canadian Air Force base, MacLean was raised in Antigonish, N.S. He was on Team Canada at the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid and as a mid-round pick of the St. Louis Blues out of the QMJHL, scored 36 goals as a rookie after a trade to Winnipeg. In all, he appeared in 719 career games for the Blues, Jets and Detroit, recording 324 goals and 349 assists.
He transitioned to coaching with various minor leagues in the 1990s, until joining Babcock’s first NHL staff in Anaheim. A strong start in Ottawa made MacLean a finalist for the Jack Adams in 2012, won by Ken Hitchcock, followed by beating out Bruce Boudreau and Joel Quenneville for the award in ‘13. Only MacLean, Jacques Martin, Alain Vigneault and Bob Hartley have won the Adams for Canadian teams the past 25 years.
It was also announced Friday that the Arizona Coyotes have hired away amateur scout and player development employee Brian Daccord from the Leafs to be special assistant to new general manager Bill Armstrong.
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