BY DEREK CARSON - FAN FUEL BLOGGER
The second half of the 2011-2012 NHL regular season is underway and as we head toward the All-Star break, our teams have some soul searching to do.
In a seven-part series, I will present the burning question that will be keeping the players and fans of their favourite Canadian team up at night. Today I look at the Ottawa Senators and wonder whether all their success should be credited to head coach Paul MacLean?
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The Senators are tearing apart everyone's expectations of them this season. They were predicted by many to finish last in the Eastern Conference. Now they sit solidly in a playoff spot and seem to have no intentions of letting it go. Can all of this success really be attributed to the new head coach, Paul MacLean?
MacLean came to the organization with a truck load of self-confidence from his time as an assistant coach under Mike Babcock with the Detroit Red Wings. MacLean won a Stanley Cup with Babcock so he understands how to motivate players to perform. He also played in the NHL, most notably as a Winnipeg Jet in the 1980s. His career totals are 324 goals and 349 assists for 673 points in 719 games. Not only did he play, he was really good too.
Ottawa has never had a coach like MacLean, one who had success both on the ice and behind the bench. He brought a certain swagger with him that he's apparently transferred to the players. If the Sens keep this up, MacLean will be in contention for the Jack Adams award for best coach.
Bryan Murray may have finally found his man. Too bad for Sens fans it took Murray so long to do a proper hiring process.
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