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Todd McLellan, Sharks part ways

TheRussianRocket.

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TheRussianRocket. Canucks All-Star

TheRussianRocket.

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http://blogs.mercurynews.com/sharks/2015/04/14/end-to-mclellans-time-with-sharks-could-come-wednesday-and-dont-be-surprised-if-its-a-legit-mutual-agreement-rather-than-a-conventional-firing/

End to McLellan's time with Sharks could come Wednesday and don't be surprised if it's a legit "mutual agreement" rather than a conventional firing

SAN JOSE Nobody should be surprised if coach Todd McLellan's tenure behind the Sharks bench ends Wednesday.

But don't necessarily expect a conventional firing. Signs indicate that a mutually agreed upon parting of the ways is more likely with both general manager Doug Wilson and McLellan acknowledging it is in everyone's best interest for him to depart with one year left on his contract.

No muss, no fuss, no blood on anybody's hands.

Wednesday is locker clean-out time, when players, coach and general manager address the season past and the one ahead. Normally, it comes two days after the final game not four. A team spokesman said the extra time was needed to accommodate staff doctors, but it might also have been used to frame what happens next.

The 49ers tried a similar approach in late December when owner Jed York and general manager Trent Baalke pushed Jim Harbaugh to the curb. That wasn't too convincing and totally backfired when Harbaugh later said there was nothing mutual about it.

And though Wilson and Baalke are close friends, the Sharks would be able to pull this off more smoothly because McLellan himself has been hinting for a while that it might be time for a change.

The most recent signal that McLellan who was named Tuesday as Team Canada's coach in the World Championship tourney next month might have one hand on the plug if it is being pulled came Saturday after San Jose's season-ending 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings.

"Our coaching staff will come under that review, but I have to do my own personal review too," he said. "I'm going to have my family together for the first time on Tuesday for a long time. My son will be back. We'll get a chance to sit down and Ill look at the impact that I think I've had and can have moving forward. Well go from there."

Then he added: "I still feel close to the group that's in the locker room, of course. We'll see what happens."

It was a year ago, on the night the Sharks were booted from the playoffs by the Los Angeles Kings after winning the first three games, that McLellan first sounded like a coach opening the exit door, even if subconsciously.

"When I look at it, I look at it as they fixed their problems, we didn't. Our problems got progressively worse as we went along," he said, adding later: "I'm in charge, I'm responsible for the group that performs on the ice. I have to accept that responsibility."

By accepting that responsibility, McLellan gave Wilson ammunition to make a coaching change at that point. But it didn't happen. Wilson needed only 48 hours to publicly recommend McLellan stay on the job for a seventh season.

A tumultuous off-season left him with his biggest challenge in his time with the Sharks. Two key decisions moving Brent Burns back to defense and stripping the captaincy from Joe Thornton were pushed by Wilson, though the coach did sign off on each. On top of that, some players were unhappy with both the message from the general manager that he considered them a "tomorrow team" as well as his decision to publicly reveal statements they made privately questioning locker room bonds.

As the season went on, McLellan sounded exasperated at times especially when his team went 0-6-2 at home in February.

"I can't tell you where we take it right now," the coach said after a 4-2 loss at home to the Ottawa Senators on Feb. 28. "Need some time to sleep on it, but to go in again and have another pow-wow and do all that type of stuff, that's getting old. Getting real old."

No coach wants to give up on a team, or guaranteed money. But from McLellan's perspective, a move now could make sense because of both personal frustration and some attractive NHL job openings and potentially even better ones.

McLellan is highly thought of around the league and it's assumed he would have no shortage of offers. Beyond that, he has ties to several other general managers where jobs might open up. Consider:

***Mike Babcock's contract is about to expire with the Detroit Red Wings, where McLellan previously served as an assistant. If Babcock were to leave, an NHL source said, his successor will be either McLellan or Jeff Bashill, the successful coach of the Red Wings' AHL team in Grand Rapids.

***An opening already exists with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where Brendan Shanahan now runs things. Shanahan's final season as a player with the Red Wings was McLellan's first there as an assistant coach. Yes, it would take time to build the Maple Leafs into a contending team, but whatever coach accomplishes that becomes an instant legend.

***The Edmonton Oilers present a similar challenge, but McLellan does have Wesetrn Canada roots and the team is moving into a new arena in 2016. The connection here may not be as strong, but McLellan's son, Tyson, played this season on the same United States Hockey League team as Oiler general manger Craig MacTavish's son, Sean.

Of course, there are legitimate questions about Wilson's future with media sources suggesting he could end up in a new role as team president, who would then hire the next general manager. Those answers could come Wednesday, too, but expect McLellan's future to be decided, for sure.

@FriedgeHNIC:

Think that @PollakOnSharks story spells it out exactly. "Mutual Agreement" will be the way this goes.

The first domino will fall shortly and unfortunately McLellan will be scapegoat. Sucks for San Jose faithful because truth be told Todd isn't the problem - he's a great coach. Problem is a select few player personnel (Thornton) that should be moved in order to fix the problem. And Wislon should be fired before anyone. I know he was the Sharks first captain and all but one can argue he's done majority of the damage with that team calling his own shots, failing, and pointing the finger elsewhere saving his own seat; case in point, he may move to role as team president, "resign" as GM and appoint someone else. ...just don't get how such a talented team can't get it together.

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Miltt Abbotsford Star

Miltt

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Too bad really. I despise the Sharks, I loathe them. I enjoy very much to see them deservedly fail every year with this guy at the helm. My fear now is they might try and find a somewhat competent coach, GM and captain to lead this team away from its joke status. But realistically speaking this group of clowns is so far behind the times that they'll need a couple of miracles to be rejuvenated.

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RonMexico Canucks Second-Line

RonMexico

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He isn't the problem. Hard to have success when you got a cancer in the room as big as No Show Joe.

Yes but what has McLellan done to prove he isn't part of the problem too? Is he living on his rep from coming from the Detroit system? How is Paul McLean doing now? He came from the same system too and he is not employed in the NHL anymore.

Honestly I don't really care but everyone is saying how great a coach he is but there isn't any evidence to support this. So if he is living off his rep, it's gotta run dry soon. Seven years of moderate success with an NHL team, as good as the Sharks have been over the years, isn't exactly a ringing endorsement.

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tyhee Canucks Rookie

tyhee

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Yes but what has McLellan done to prove he isn't part of the problem too? Is he living on his rep from coming from the Detroit system? How is Paul McLean doing now? He came from the same system too and he is not employed in the NHL anymore.

Honestly I don't really care but everyone is saying how great a coach he is but there isn't any evidence to support this. So if he is living off his rep, it's gotta run dry soon. Seven years of moderate success with an NHL team, as good as the Sharks have been over the years, isn't exactly a ringing endorsement.

I don't know whether McLellan is a good coach or not (I've been impressed by his interviews but that and a couple of bucks will buy a cheap cup of coffee) but disagree that there's no evidence to support his ability as a coach. A regular season record of 311-163-66 over seven seasons spent consecutively with one team has to be considered at least some evidence that he can coach.

I'm not saying there aren't also arguments against him (his playoff win % is a mediocre .484, for instance), just that his regular season record is some evidence of coaching ability.

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Mustapha Canucks Second-Line

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Yes but what has McLellan done to prove he isn't part of the problem too? Is he living on his rep from coming from the Detroit system? How is Paul McLean doing now? He came from the same system too and he is not employed in the NHL anymore.

Honestly I don't really care but everyone is saying how great a coach he is but there isn't any evidence to support this. So if he is living off his rep, it's gotta run dry soon. Seven years of moderate success with an NHL team, as good as the Sharks have been over the years, isn't exactly a ringing endorsement.

The team has gone to the third round multiple times under McLellan, he is doing something right.

Having said that, the Sharks are running into the same issues the Canucks had last year....stale locker room. McLellan is a part of that too.

Maybe it's time to ship Jumbo to Toronto (I am SURE they will take him)

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RUPERTKBD Canucks Hall-of-Famer

RUPERTKBD

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It'll be interesting to see what McLellen does. Personally, I hope he tries his hand with Toronto. Whether it goes well or not, it'll be fun for everyone to watch.

That would be my guess. It's hard to know what Shanny is thinking, but the fact that TM has been chosen to coach team Canada at the World Championships would suggest that he will be at the top of the list of potential coaching hires this off-season.

Normally, you'd expect a new GM to be chosen before a coach, but one article I read suggested that Shanahan is going to take a much more "hands on" approach to the day to day running of the Leafs. I could certainly see him telling potential GMs that McLellan is his coach and they'll have to live with it if they want the job.

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Gerbera Abbotsford Regular

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Reminds me of the Canucks and AV scenario. Good coach, but definitely time to move on too.

I am pretty sure there are a little bits of doubts about AV with his last few years record with the Canucks, but his recent success with NYR seems to suggest he is a pretty decent head coach.

I expect McLellan to be pretty similar (maybe not as successful as AV in NYR) but provide decent coaching to a decent team and make some noise in the playoffs.

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Honky Cat Canucks Star

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Reminds me of the Canucks and AV scenario. Good coach, but definitely time to move on too.

I am pretty sure there are a little bits of doubts about AV with his last few years record with the Canucks, but his recent success with NYR seems to suggest he is a pretty decent head coach.

I expect McLellan to be pretty similar (maybe not as successful as AV in NYR) but provide decent coaching to a decent team and make some noise in the playoffs.

Agreed,the Sharks need a new voice in the dressing room,simple as that...Like AV,McClellan is a respected coach who will have no problem getting another head coaching gig.

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