Todd McLellan is no longer coach of the San Jose Sharks. McLellan and the Sharks have "mutually agreed to part ways," according to a release from the team Monday. McLellan said he took part fully in the discussions about his status with the team and reached the decision to leave, he said during a Monday conference call. He also said, he hopes to coach again in the NHL soon.
"I'm a coach, I want to coach," said McLellan, who leaves later this week to coach Canada in the 2015 IIHF World Championships in the Czech Republic.
General manager Doug Wilson is expected to speak later Monday at SAP Center.
"I want to thank Todd and his staff for their years of service to the San Jose Sharks organization," Wilson said in the release. "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."
McLellan was named coach on June 12, 2008. He leaves the organization as the franchise leader in wins (311), games coached (540) and points percentage (.637). He won a Presidents' Trophy in 2009 when the Sharks compiled the NHL's best record and also claimed three Pacific Division titles. During his tenure, the Sharks made six appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including two in the Western Conference Final (2010, 2011). But the Sharks could not win regularly in the postseason and went out in stunning fashion in 2014, allowing a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference First Round evaporate against the Los Angeles Kings, who went on to win the Stanley Cup. San Jose missed the playoffs for the first time in 11 years this season. McLellan finished with a regular-season record of 311-163-66 and reached the playoffs in each of his first six seasons, reaching the Western Conference Final in 2010 and 2011. He will coach Canada at the 2015 IIHF World Championships later this month.
Assistant coaches Jim Johnson and Jay Woodcroft, and video coordinator Brett Heimlich, were also fired. Associate coach Larry Robinson moved into his full-time role of director of player development at the conclusion of the 2014-15 regular season.
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