I wouldn't want McLellan. What answers has he come up with in Edmonton? He SEEMED to have that team turned around last season, but here we are again.
Does he have Edmonton playing well defensively? Nope.
Does he have Edmonton doing anything at all except 'McDavid'? Nope.
McLellan was coaching a very strong San Jose team for years - that's why he made the playoffs often. What happened during his time there? The Sharks got the rep of being one of the perennial playoff chokers. Finally they miss the playoffs altogether, people start saying that the team needs to be rebuilt, McLellan moves to Edmonton, and.. voila! A Finals appearance. The first in franchise history.
For me, McLellan is a lot like Boudreau - always coaches good teams but seems to always underachieve/disappoint. One turn-around season in Edmonton (though the building and scheduling maybe had a lot to do with it), and it is back to disappointing.
Get the Flames a Stanley Cup winning coach, or at least one that has led different organizations all the way to the finals. Someone with an actual track record of turning around an organization.
Sutter, Vigneault, Ruff (though perhaps the Rangers keep him and promote him to head coach), Tippett (though with Treliving and Maloney here, won't happen) - these are the available ones that in my mind make sense and have a somewhat proven record, or have at least shown to make a team better than expected. Let's see who else turns up as available.
Sutter and Vigneault so far.
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