It's been a busy day for would be San Jose Sharks Coaches, with Mike Babcock finally deciding his future lies in his homeland, while former Penguins Stanley Cup winning coach is to hold talks with the sharks hierarchy. Babcock had said he was done speaking with teams. It was unknown if he interviewed with the Sharks. Babcock initiated contact with the Sharks, CSN Bay Area reported Sunday. Their former coach Todd McLellan said Tuesday he believes his former team remains in good position to contend for the Stanley Cup. McLellan, 47, was being introduced as Edmonton Oilers coach, less than a month after parting with San Jose. McLellan and the Sharks announced April 20 he would no longer be their coach. He acknowledged it may have been time to move on. San Jose made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in six of seven seasons under McLellan, missing this season, and advanced to the Western Conference Final in 2010 and 2011. The Sharks have not hired a coach. They reportedly are interested in a second interview with former New Jersey Devils coach Peter DeBoer and have received permission to speak with former Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma. Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock was believed to have interest in the job, but it's unclear if he met with the Sharks. He is expected to make a decision Wednesday about where he will coach next season; Detroit and the Buffalo Sabres are the leading contenders.
Todd McLellan: "They still have a tremendous team. They have tremendous athletes in that locker room. They'll be a force to be reckoned with. It was just time for the players and the coach to refresh, I guess is the best word. We ended up losing to some very good teams: Chicago (in the West Final in 2010), Los Angeles (in the first round in 2014), teams that went on to win the Stanley Cup. Sometimes you get beat by a better team. It's as simple as that."
Bylsma was fired by the Pittsburgh Penguins after last season with two years remaining on his contract. The Penguins reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the six seasons he coached, and he led Pittsburgh to the Stanley Cup in 2009. He was 252-117-32 in the regular season. It is alleged Bylsma turned down two jobs before this season; although the identity of those teams remain a mystery. TSN reported the Sharks want to give Peter DeBoer a second interview. DeBoer was fired by the New Jersey Devils in December. It is unknown what compensation the Penguins or Devils are seeking if Bylsma or DeBoer is hired.
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