Todd McLellan And San Jose Sharks Mutually Part Ways
By Felix Chow
The news that had been speculated about for the past week became official Monday morning.
#SJSharks and head coach Todd McLellan have mutually agreed to part ways. http://t.co/GGFhDwpAUv
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) April 20, 2015
The moves come five days after the Sharks cleaned out their lockers and met with the media one final time. The former Sharks head coach had said he needed to talk with his family about his future with the organization.
McLellan was named head coach of San Jose on June 12, 2008. According to the release, he led the Sharks in wins (311), games coached (540) and points percentage (.637), with an overall record of 311-163-66.
He was highly successful in San Jose leading the Sharks to their only Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history during the 2008-’09 season and a run of three consecutive Pacific Division titles (2008-11). The Sharks made seven consecutive playoff appearances during his tenure, but failed to reach the postseason for the first time in his professional coaching career this past season.
Despite his immense success, McLellan could never get San Jose fully over the hump. The Sharks made back-to-back Western Conference Final appearances in 2010 and 2011, but registered only one victory in nine games. Ultimately, his playoff record of 30-32 wasn’t quite good enough to get San Jose to the top of the mountain.