Thanks, Sharks TV
San Jose's loss may be Buffalo's gain.
The Todd McClellan era has come to an end in the city by the bay.
Did McClellan walk the plank of his own volition? Or, was he pushed into the shark infested, icy waters?
We may never know as McClellan and Sharks GM "mutually agreed to part ways".
I'm no marriage expert but that sounds like a divorce to me.
McClellan and his star player Joe Thornton had a public beef last week on locker clean out day. Thornton has had a running feud with Sharks GM, Doug Wilson, too. Thornton has a no trade clause. McClellan didn't have one. Its a player's league that NHL is. The coach is easier to replace than the multi-million dollar players.
Today, McClellan took the high road and tipped his bucket to Thornton:
"To my last breath, I have a ton of respect for Joe Thornton." Todd McLellan.
The Sharks made it to two Western Conference Finals on McClellan watch. The guy is a superb NHL head coach. He has what it takes to win a Stanley Cup or two.
One door closed and another will open immediately for McClellan who is going to be highly sought after by several NHL teams including Buffalo, Toronto, and Philly. Edmonton and Boston may enter the McClellan chase as well. If and when Mike Babcock leaves Detroit for $5M+ per season elsewhere, McClellan would be a suitable replacement for Babcock in The D.
Buffalo GM Tim Murray will be wise to call McClellan immediately, if not sooner. McClellan is a red hot free agent who can speak with NHL teams right now. Murray fired Ted Nolan and 95% of his coaching staff eight days ago. The Sabres are filled to the gills with exceptional young prospects and a talented, youthful core of players. On Saturday night, Murray won Jack Eichel at the NHL Draft Lottery. McClellan is a patient teacher and loves to coach the score-off-rush style of play. He preaches and teaches a high pace, high energy offense while limiting time and space on the defensive side of the puck. McClellan would get maximum output from young Buffalo stars Samson Reinhart, Zemgus Girgensons, Tyler Ennis, Mikhail Grigorenko, Marcus Foligno, Rasmus Ristolainen, Mark Pysyk, Jake McCabe, Nikita Zadorov and Nic Deslauriers. McClellan is equally as adept at leading the veterana in the room. Buffalo has Brian Gionta, Matt Moulson, Evander Kane, and Zach Bogosian.
McLellan is a branch off the Mike Babcock coaching tree. In fact, both men are very similar in demeanor, discipline, systems and overall game management philosophy.
In 1994, McLellan was hired as the head coach and general manager of the Swift Current Broncos of the WHL. In his six seasons with Swift Current, the Broncos qualified for the WHL playoffs in all seasons.
Following his successes at the junior level, McLellan was hired by the expansion Minnesota Wild to coach their minor league affiliate, the Cleveland Lumberjacks. After the IHL folded in 2001, McLellan and his staff were transferred to the Wild's new minor league affiliate, the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League. As coach of the Aeros, McLellan led Houston to the Calder Cup in 2003.
In 2005, Mike Babcock selected McLellan to serve as his assistant with the Detroit Red Wings. In Detroit, McLellan was tasked with handling the Red Wings' forwards and managing the team's power play, as well as reporting player performance to head coach Babcock. Under his watch, the Red Wings had the top-ranked power play in the NHL, finishing first in power play efficiency in 2005–06 and third in 2007–08. McLellan would also achieve his first Stanley Cup with the Red Wings in 2007–08 (Source: Wikipedia)
On June 11, 2008, the San Jose Sharks hired McLellan to become their new head coach, replacing Ron Wilson.
He coached the Western Conference All-Star team, and piloted the Sharks to their first Presidents' Trophy with an NHL-leading 117 points to finish the regular season, and finished third in voting for that season's Jack Adams Award. He is the winningest head coach in Sharks history with 207 victories.
McLellan is all that, and then some.
A change will do him a lot of good. There's no denying the consistency and winning culture that he created in San Jose. Like all good coaches, it was time to leave.
UI think Buffalo is a very intriguing place for McLellan to land.
Tim Murray said Sunday that he wants to interview five quality head coaching candidates. I guarantee you that McClellan will be on Murray's interview list. Murray will not be hiring the first candidate that he interviews. He will be all over Babcock the moment that the Red Wings get punted from the playoffs. Murray will make Babcock that he can't refuse to the tune of $5 million plus per season for 5 to 6 seasons. Like Babcock, McClellan won't be interested in coaching a rebuilding team. Babcock and McClellan want to win now, not in 2020. With Jack Eichel in the fold next season, Buffalo could make a playoff run like this season's Calgary Flames have accomplished after finishing in 28th place last season. Murraybwill be adding veteran experienced players this summer. I see a Ryan O'Reilly trade coming on draft day. I also see Patrick Sharp leaving Chicago as a salary cap casualty. Murray has unlimited resources, a ton a hot young prospects, and tons of Pegula money. He also has ice time galore to use to attract the best of the best to Buffalo.
So where will he work now?
"I'll look at people in the organization, then look at team and figure out if they have chance for success," McLellan says.
WELCOME TO BUFFALO.
McClellan won't be in a hurry to sign a new deal today. He is going to be the bench boss for Team Canada at the IIHF World Championships in Prague. The tourney begins May 1. McClellan will leave for the Worlds on April 24. There is definitely more than enough time for McClellan to hop on Terry Pegula's G6 Gulfstream jet for a sit down lunch interview in Buffalo this week.
McClellan may want to read Rex Ryan's firsthand account of how the Pegulas shmoozed him during their brief courtship.
***
From the Sharks:
McClellan has experience coaching and getting maximum efforts from generational players like Joe Thornton, Pavel Datsyuk, Nik Lidstrom, and Henrik Zetterberg.
The San Jose Sharks and Todd McLellan have mutually agreed to part ways.
In related moves, Assistant Coaches Jim Johnson and Jay Woodcroft, and Video Coordinator Brett Heimlich have been relieved of their duties. Associate Coach Larry Robinson moved into his full-time role of director of player development at the conclusion of the 2014-15 regular season.
“I want to thank Todd and his staff for their years of service to the San Jose Sharks organization,… said Wilson. “Sometimes a change is best for all parties involved but nothing will take away from what Todd and his staff accomplished here over the last seven seasons.…
“San Jose will always hold a special place for me and my family,… said McLellan. “I would like to thank Doug and the Sharks organization for allowing me the opportunity to coach at the National Hockey League level. While we both agree that a change is in the best interest of myself and the team, I’m proud of what we accomplished as an organization.…
McLellan, named head coach of the Sharks on June 12, 2008, leaves as the Sharks franchise leader in wins (311), games coached (540) and points percentage (.637), with an overall record of 311-163-66. In that span, the team captured three Pacific Division titles (2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11) and one Presidents’ Trophy (2008-09).
During his tenure, the Sharks made seven appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including two appearances in the Conference Final (2010, 2011) and played in 11 playoff rounds, with an overall record of 30-32.