Red Wings Assistant MacLean Headed to Ottawa

Paul MacLean will reportedly become the second Red Wings assitant coach to leave Detroit this offseason, as he his expected to be announced as the new head coach of the Ottawa Senators.

MacLean had been with the Wings since the 2005-06 season, joining the team whem Mike Babcock became head coach. The two had previously worked together for two seasons with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

Brad McCrimmon – Detroit’s other assistant coach from the 2010-11 season – left the team to take a head coaching position in the Russian Kontinental Hockey League last month.

Babcock and general manager Ken Holland will work to replace the two departed assistants before the NHL Draft at the end of the month. Early candidates include former Plymouth Whalers coach Pete DeBoer, former Windsor Spitfires coach Bob Boughner, and former Minnesota Wild coach Todd Richards. Rumors also persist about former NHL head coaches Ken Hitchcock and Dave King as possible options.