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Todd McLellan, Sharks 'mutually agree to part ways'
David Pollak was on to it. Todd McLellan won’t be fired from the San Jose Sharks. Instead, the team announced on Monday that they’ve “mutually agreed to part ways" with the head coach.
From the Sharks:
“I want to thank Todd and his staff for their years of service to the San Jose Sharks organization,” said [GM Doug] 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 compiled a 311-163-66 record in seven seasons in San Jose, making the postseason every year but 2014-15. In the playoffs, however, the Sharks could never live up to the high Stanley Cup expectations. They reached the Western Conference Final in consecutive years, but only won one game. And three first-round exits were highlighted by the disastrous collapse against the Los Angeles Kings a year ago, which has turned out to be the beginning of the end.
It was a toxic situation in San Jose. Last week, Logan Couture commented on the culture of the team by saying it's "not great," while supporting McLellan.
But while McLellan takes the fall here, there should be plenty of responsibility pointed Wilson’s way. After the loss to the Kings, instead of bolstering an already strong roster, the GM went out and signed Mike Brown and John Scott. They combined to play only 50 games. He then stripped Joe Thornton of the captaincy in August, and toward the end of the season, the two got into a war of words through the media after Wilson told a group of season-ticket holders that the center allowed pressure to get to him.
Wilson's the general manager, for now, and we'll see if owner Hasso Plattner goes forward with other front office changes.
McLellan, meanwhile, is already a favored target of several NHL teams who are currently without head coaches, a list that could grow over the next several weeks. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Philadelphia Flyers are reportedly interested, but the coaching markets will probably be stalled until we know the fate of Mike Babcock in Detroit.
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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy
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