[News] Update: Todd McLellan and Sharks mutually agree to part ways

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

I hate to say it, but both Toronto and Edmonton will have some good head coaching choices...

Contrary you could say that some good head coaches will have some poor opportunities available.

[Cheerio]

Big mistake by San Jose, McLellan is a great coach and will excel in his next gig guaranteed.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Contrary you could say that some good head coaches will have some poor opportunities available.

That's a different angle, for sure. I'd like to think that it's not only about the money and that good coaches take pride in an opportunity to take a struggling team to some higher level of achievement.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

Will be interesting to see where Babcock ends up. McLellan would fit into Detroit nicely.

Mclellan was an assistant to Babcock before he got his own in SJ. If Babcock leaves, wouldn't surprise me at all to see Todd end up back with the Wings.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Cheerio

Big mistake by San Jose, McLellan is a great coach and will excel in his next gig guaranteed.

Why is McLellan thought of so highly as a coach? For the past 6 years as head coach, he's had a boatload of talent to work with in San Jose and did nothing with it. 3 first round exits (one in historical fashion), 1 second round exit, and 2 conference final appearances where he won a total of 1 game

A coach should earn his money in the playoffs, getting the most out of his players when the pressure is the highest, and he's consistently failed to do that

[DoubleK]

#### goaltending did SJ in, IMO.

[Dagger]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

Why is McLellan thought of so highly as a coach? For the past 6 years as head coach, he's had a boatload of talent to work with in San Jose and did nothing with it. 3 first round exits (one in historical fashion), 1 second round exit, and 2 conference final appearances where he won a total of 1 game

A coach should earn his money in the playoffs, getting the most out of his players when the pressure is the highest, and he's consistently failed to do that

From what SJ fans are saying these are the main gripes:

He has a short leash for young players, and a long one for vets(although, which coach doesn't).

He needlessly tries to spread out ice time amongst his players. Specifically, Vlasic averaged 20-22 minutes per game over the last few seasons, whilst the likes of Scott Hannan averaged over 16 this season.

Poor playoff adjustments: he isn't pragmatic and they believe he's cost them a few series with poor judgement,

His system instructs players to shoot from anywhere and everywhere in the attacking zone. Many shots come from bad angles when with the players they have they could probably find a better look. The underlying numbers look great, and people who just look at the numbers would revere him but really zone dominance comes from having the better players and not artificially raising the shot count(see Dallas Eakins).

That's just from what I've read, and the little I've watched so take it for what you will. He's clearly not a bad coach, but his reputation is probably overstated.

[calgarywinning]

You hope recently fired as a coach, you sit back. You wait for the draft to finish. Then you make your pitch.

Right now Toronto has made big moves and will try to make bigger moves.

Buff has made the biggest moves, but I really hope they come up poorly in the lottery.

[badger89]

You heard it here first.... Babcock is going to SJ as GM & coach and McLellan is going to Detroit. I have an Orange Juilius source. It would make a lot of sense though, wouldn't it?

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by badger89

You heard it here first.... Babcock is going to SJ as GM & coach and McLellan is going to Detroit. I have an Orange Juilius source. It would make a lot of sense though, wouldn't it?

Hope not. Last thing we need is Mike Babcock in our division.

[automaton 3]

The Sharks allowed the Kings to win 4 elimination games in a row against them last year, and underachieved this year

Time for a fresh start.

[the_only_turek_fan]

@FriedgeHNIC: RT @PollakOnSharks: Thornton's latest jab at #SJSharks McLellan, not GM: "Todd has to talk to his family. Maybe he should talk to this family as well in here."

Joe is at it again.

[the_only_turek_fan]

@FriedgeHNIC: What a scene in San Jose

m.twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC

[Hemi-Cuda]

Thornton is such a poisonous player, no wonder any team he's been on has vastly underachieved

[Locke]

Jumbo Joe should learn to shut his mouth. Hes making himself look like an ass.

[Flash Walken]

I bet they are real glad they gave him a NMC right now.

[Resolute 14]

I think Thornton wants to force change and is using his NMC to force the team into a "me or them, and you can't move me" scenario.

[mhsyyc]

Originally Posted by automaton 3

The Sharks allowed the Kings to win 4 elimination games in a row against them last year, and underachieved this year

Time for a fresh start.

Allowed?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I think Thornton wants to force change and is using his NMC to force the team into a "me or them, and you can't move me" scenario.

You may be on to something but it's pretty low class stuff taking shots at a coach that is on his way out. Even the Oilers players didn't bad mouth Eakins despite everyone in North America (outside of Craig MacTavish) knowing he was the worst head coach in the NHL by a long shot. McLellan is a good NHL head coach that got caught in the spiral of a team in decline. It's probably best for all involved that he moves on but keep that stuff to yourself or behind closed doors.

I used to not mind Jumbo Joe but I after all his trash talk I have come to the conclusion that I would never want him on my team and if there was ever any merit to him being a good leader it's been severely tarnished.

[Resolute 14]

It is low class, but no lower than stripping Thornton of the C just because. Especially after doing the same to Marleau previously. I would say it is fairly clear that the players would be happier if McLellan and Wilson were employed elsewhere, and it is causing everyone to behave like petulant children.