Sharks Hire Detroit's McLellan as Coach

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?).

(Thanks, Kukla's Korner!)