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The San Jose Sharks have extended their head coach’s contract showing confidence in the organization’s all-time leading bench boss.
Todd McLellan’s extension has been earned and why wouldn’t they extend his tenure he has done everything expected from him, except win the Cup; and I don’t throw that comment in there like it is some small feat.
In his five seasons as the team’s head coach McLellan has surmised a 220-108-48 record overtaking former coach Ron Wilson as the all-time leader for wins with the San Jose organization. He has taken the Sharks to the Conference finals two years in a row and this year he swept the Vancouver Canucks then he took the defending Cup champs to the limit losing in game seven at the Staples Center.
His team was perfect on home ice in the 2013 post-season which goes a long way to winning over the fans and considering the shortened deck of cards he had to play with he did an admirable job with this team.
Head Coach Todd McLellan and his crew are known around the league as one of the hardest working staffs in the game and lead their team by example. They leave no stone unturned while preparing for opponents which has had a trickle-down effect on his players. He is a player’s coach but he also knows when to drop the hammer.
Another area that Todd excels at is patience and availability with the press. He knows that exposure sells the game and he also knows that in this market not everybody is going to be hockey experts and he has gone above and beyond when answering questions.
After practice is usually a good time to get to know both players and coaches better because they aren’t time challenged. When I missed Todd’s address to the media after practice earlier in the season he was very understanding and made time for me in his office.
I met one of his boys who were there and after swapping fishing stories and discussing the summer activities he put great thought into the answers he gave me instead of spewing out whatever first came to mind.
One of the many qualities that comes with coach Todd McLellan is he leads his players to the well but he also makes accountable and forces them to think. He doesn’t give the answers he forces his players to use their heads and come to their own conclusions.
Since taking over in San Jose we have seen improvements in star players as well as developing prospects. We have seen Joe Thornton grow into the all-around player he has become and with Todd’s tutelage he has grown into a much better playoff performer.
Guys like to play for the Saskatchewan native which goes a long way to keeping your job in the NHL.
Keep your sticks on the ice,
Cam Gore
San Jose Sharks Blogger • 
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