Story and Photos credited to Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame, with key information from Paul MacLean’s wiki page
Paul MacLean was born in Grostenquin, France, on March 9, 1958, while his father was serving with the Canadian Armed Forces. His family returned to Canada when he was two years old, and he was raised in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, where he developed a lifelong passion for hockey.
Paul MacLean playing for the Winnipeg Jets
MacLean first gained serious attention during the 1977–78 season with the Hull Olympiques of the QMJHL. He recorded 39 goals and 32 assists for 71 points in 66 games, a breakout campaign that caught the attention of NHL scouts. Later that year, the St. Louis Blues selected him 109th overall in the NHL Entry Draft.
Rather than turning professional immediately, MacLean spent the following season with the Dalhousie Tigers, leading the team to a rare AUAA championship. His strong play earned him an invitation to Canada’s National Team as it prepared to return to Olympic competition, representing Canada at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.
MacLean joined the Winnipeg Jets in 1981 and quickly established himself as one of the NHL’s premier goal scorers. He played seven seasons with the Jets, recording three 40-goal seasons and three 30-goal seasons. His finest year came in 1984–85, when he scored 41 goals and 60 assists for 101 points, finishing 11th in NHL scoring and earning selection to the NHL All-Star Game. He later played for the Detroit Red Wings before returning to the St. Louis Blues, where injuries brought his playing career to a close following the 1990–91 season.
Over 10 NHL seasons, MacLean appeared in 719 games, scoring 324 goals and adding 349 assists for 673 points, and ranks among the NHL’s all-time leaders in career shooting percentage. In recognition of his outstanding playing career, he was inducted into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame in 1995.
Paul MacLean – Winnipeg Jets Profile
MacLean’s success continued behind the bench. After coaching in the International Hockey League and leading the Quad City Mallards to the 2001 Colonial Cup championship, he joined Mike Babcock’s staff with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim before helping the Detroit Red Wings capture the Stanley Cup in 2008 as an assistant coach.
In 2011, MacLean was named head coach of the Ottawa Senators, and two years later received the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s Coach of the Year after leading the Senators through one of the league’s most impressive seasons. He later served as an assistant coach with the Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Toronto Maple Leafs, before becoming a senior advisor with Toronto.
Throughout an accomplished career as both a player and coach, MacLean has remained proud of his Antigonish roots. He continues to spend summers in the community where his hockey journey began, serving as one of Antigonish’s most accomplished ambassadors in the sport.
Submitted July 20th, 2026