Paul MacLean

Paul MacLean was fired by the Ottawa Senators Dec. 8. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

NEWARK — With teams set to resume play after the NHL's Christmas break, speculation among Devils players is that Paul MacLean will be introduced Saturday morning as the team's new coach.

MacLean, 56, was fired by the Ottawa Senators on Dec. 8 after that team got off to an 11-11-5 start.

The 2013 Jack Adams Award winner as the NHL's top coach, MacLean is regarded as a disciplinarian who is feared but not disliked by his players. That would fit into the type of coach general manager Lou Lamoriello might want to bring in to succeed Pete DeBoer.

In four seasons as coach of the Senators, MacLean compiled a 114-90-35 record. He was 8-9 in the playoffs.

Born in France, MacLean is a former forward who played 719 NHL games with the St. Louis Blues, Winnipeg Jets and Detroit Red Wings. He is known for his distinctive mustache.

Rich Chere may be reached at rchere@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Ledger_NJDevils. Find NJ.com on Facebook.