The photo you see here is Detroit Red Wings assistant coach Todd McLellan hoisting the Stanley Cup last week in Pittsburgh.
The San Jose Sharks hope to see McLellan hoisting a Cup soon in his new role. A press conference is set for Thursday, where McLellan will be named the Sharks' head coach, replacing the fired Ron Wilson.
"It's a very good feeling," McLellan said in a statement released by the team. "From the first moment Doug called to the moment he offered the job, I felt comfortable. I think the Sharks have done a tremendous job. You don't get that close to 50 wins for a number of years in a row without a lot of talent. It's a matter of getting over the hump. There are some real parallels between the Wings and the Sharks."
It's a sound hire for San Jose, as McLellan was likely to become a head coach this summer. He assisted Mike Babcock for three years in Detroit, spending a lot of his time working with the Wings' power play. If his work there is any indication, I wouldn't be wanting to take too many penalties when playing the Sharks next season.
McLellan also spent four years as a head coach with the Houston Aeros of the AHL, so he's not void of any head-coaching experience.
What happened to San Jose in this year's playoff wasn't totally Ron Wilson's fault (injuries played a huge role), but it was time for a change. Tip your cap to GM Doug Wilson for not hiring one of the many retreads that were out there (I'll forget I ever heard the name "Mike Milbury" connected to this search, K?).
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(Thanks, Kukla's Korner!)