Ottawa Senators: Time To Fire Paul MacLean?
The Senators hockey product has not been pretty. This leaves the team, the franchise, and specifically the coach in a bad spot. Paul MacLean has been great in Ottawa, he’s a former Jack Adams winner and led an injury ridden Senators team to the playoffs in 12-13.
As it stands, the Senators are on a 5 game losing streak. The Coach may have to pay a price for the team’s recent lack of success, both this season and last.
I don’t believe a team should fire a coach due to a losing skid or streak, but when the job isn’t getting done. Something needs to change.
Mar 22, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Ottawa Senators head coach Paul MacLean watches his team take on the Dallas Stars during the game at the American Airlines Center. The Stars defeated the Senators 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Bryan Murray, Senators GM has stated in the past that he doesn’t micro-manage his coach. Murray stays away from lineup changes and goaltending decisions, leaving that up to MacLean.
Lack Of Consistency
The Senators have not been a consistent team this season, but what seems to be consistent with MacLean, is his lineup changes.
The Senators have not had one consistent line all season. Greening-Smith-Neil was their only consistent line last season.
The Sens have rarely seen a combo stay intact. It seems like we have a new lineup every night, where chemistry can be hard to develop. Both up front and on defence, the consistent changes have some scratching their heads.
Clarke MacArthur and Kyle Turris have been the only forward “duo” to stay intact this season, where everyone else has been juggled in and out of the lineup. The Senators have not had one consistent line all season.
On Defence, it’s always a question who is going to play with Erik Karlsson. And given the fact that “Karl” plays 25+ minutes per night, he’s given nearly 3 defensive partners per game.
Dressing players, especially on defence is another question. Jared Cowen, who has been good is on the shelf currently where he has paid for Marc Methot‘s return.
We are well aware of the frustration MacLean can bring. In 13-14 it was the Greening – Smith – Neil line. People are disgusted whenever Chris Neil is on the ice with less than a minute to go and David Legwand‘s powerplay usage is not popular among fans.
Scared to Death
Recently, we saw a quote from MacLean pop up. Don Brennan of the Ottawa Sun has a piece describing the situation, but what’s interesting is MacLean’s choice of words when talking about his job.
MacLean on facing Pens: "All I know is I'm scared to death everyday who we are playing and sometimes I'm scared to death who I'm playing."
— Brent Wallace (@localpodcaster) December 6, 2014
The quote tells the situation Ottawa is in, scared to death to play an opponent can be read many ways and may come across as a lack of confidence in the team.
The Senators are in a slump, there’s no questioning that. If it continues long-term, maybe the off-season is when MacLean is fired. Yet, firing a coach due to a slump is never a smart move. Slumps happen, they just don’t happen to the “good” teams.