Ottawa Senators Fire Head Coach Paul MacLean After Three-Plus Seasons

The Ottawa Senators made a surprising move Monday when they fired head coach Paul MacLean.

MacLean was in the middle of his fourth season with the Sens, and it’s been a rocky start to the season. Ottawa is just 11-11-5 through 27 games and is just 3-6-1 in its last 10 games. Coincidentally, the Senators won Sunday night, coming from behind to erase a three-goal deficit against the Vancouver Canucks.

The Senators did not immediately announce an interim or replacement head coach.

MacLean took over prior to the 2011-12 season and coached the Senators to consecutive playoff berths in his first two seasons behind the Ottawa bench. He was named the 2013 Jack Adams Award winner as the NHL’s best head coach. The Senators rewarded MacLean with a contract extension in July 2013.

The Senators racked up 88 points last season but missed the playoffs and obviously struggled to start the 2014-15 season.