[browna]

He's been mentioned before but if AV has no desire to come here, and assuming JQ decides to want to stay in Chicago, would you take a flyer on McLellan?

Playoffs in 7 of the last 10 years, including 6 series wins in that stretch, and of course an assistant with Detroit prior to that. I liked him before Edmonton, and he hasn't really ever seemed comfortable or gotten entrenched in the old boys club there, which is why he's likely on the way out because he doesn't drink the Kool aid. Having his GM throw him under the bus today, himself not part of the old guard either shows that Chia is the dink and where his loyalties lie, as he knows he may not get another GM gig soon.

McLellan has been exasperated outwardly, and am sure with the meddling and off ice pressure that the owner and Lowe advising the owner from the shadows, trotting in Gretzky to evaluate things and then this year Coffey to be a special coach, not surprised if he's fed up with the antics up there internally as well and how it prevents him from full control of the players.

We could do worse, if the second tier includes Tippet and Bill Peters, both who don't have recent playoff success like Todd does. This team needs a coach who has been to the playoffs and had recent success in the playoffs, as that sort of guidence and handling of NHL players in this era, is as key as anything.