Fire McLellan

[rares]

OK... here are reasons why he's an incredibly shitty coach and should be fired either immediately or at the end of the season:

1) Has no clue how to manage his players. Lines are just fucking random after he panics when the team falls behind.

2) Didn't sit Colin White until there were <15 games in the fucking season. WTF?

3) Gives his team/players WAY too many fucking days off. Got two days off between games? One day is guaranteed to be optional or no practice at all. Your team fucking sucks, dude. Get a fucking clue. You should have mandatory (except if injured/recovering) practices every fucking day.

4) Never benches/healthy scratches anyone. Has no balls. Also see #2.

5) Has completely fucked up/mis-managed the goalie "rotation". Has no idea when he should play each goalie. Just goes with fucking Niemi 99% of the time... because he believes the more Niemi plays, the better he gets. How about "are you fucking stupid"? Niemi blows game after game and Greiss is rusty because you keep going with Niemi's fuckery game after game? Why?

6) He's a former PP/offense coach (in Detroit, IIRC) but the PP has sucked out loud for a large majority of the season and looks pathetic most times out there.

Please feel free to add your own.

And yes, losses to shitty teams like the fucking Ducks piss me right the fuck off.

 

[SJVP408]

You mean this face doesn't inspire confidence in you to win?

[/IMG]

 

[rares]

PS. What is McLellan actually *good* at? From what I hear, he's also quiet and a "players' coach" and doesn't say shit in the locker room and just lets the team leaders lead instead... well, no fucking wonder the team sucks if Jimbo is in charge of rallying the troops.

 

[rares]

You mean this face doesn't inspire confidence in you to win?

LOL.. that's a low blow.

I'm torn. I really like McLellan as a dude. He seems like he'd be awesome to talk to or whatever. I just think he's proving to be in WAY over his head with this job he's got. This is not an easy team to manage (too many slackers) and it needs a certain (no-nonsense, ride them hard, etc.) type of coach... he's not that coach, unfortunately.

 

[SJVP408]

LOL.. that's a low blow.

I'm torn. I really like McLellan as a dude. He seems like he'd be awesome to talk to or whatever. I just think he's proving to be in WAY over his head with this job he's got. This is not an easy team to manage (too many slackers) and it needs a certain (no-nonsense, ride them hard, etc.) type of coach... he's not that coach, unfortunately.

This team is indeed very hard to coach for the reason you stated and the expectations of the team right when Todd came on. For a rookie coach, I would think that it's harder to step into a situation where the team was expected to contend, as opposed to a rebuild phase.

I agree the team needs a coach less relaxed and more heated. Todd's approach is calm and collected and that's fine if you have a team that motivates each other, which is really special. But if you notice that the team loses focus here and there, takes nights off here and there. Then be proactive and take control. Ride the players hard and keep reminding them of the goal.

I'm not in the locker room so this may all be wrong, but I don't see Todd as someone that the players are afraid of, and I think it's good for the team when the players are afraid to let down Coach.

 

[naes666]

You mean this face doesn't inspire confidence in you to win?

[/IMG]

whoa!!!

i think he must be doing bong hits with Jim Thorton and Blinky...

 

[sjrules99]

I too would ouster him, but he also doesnt have the troops to win the war. He's definitely not getting the best out of his guys (unlike, say, hitchcock, tippet, or even that new dallas coach, forget his name), but he also has absolutely no scoring depth and questionable heart on his front lines in jumbo and patty. That's not all that easy to handle.

That said, the team is still good enough to make the PO's, so a miss should be responded to harshly. I would consider dougie's job as well. I mean, the guy has made the PO's every year, including 3 final four appearances, but he has gutted the farm and really fucked up this year.

Im sure if they miss the PO's, some major changes will happen.

 

[rares]

I too would ouster him, but he also doesnt have the troops to win the war. He's definitely not getting the best out of his guys (unlike, say, hitchcock, tippet, or even that new dallas coach, forget his name), but he also has absolutely no scoring depth and questionable heart on his front lines in jumbo and patty. That's not all that easy to handle.

That said, the team is still good enough to make the PO's, so a miss should be responded to harshly. I would consider dougie's job as well. I mean, the guy has made the PO's every year, including 3 final four appearances, but he has gutted the farm and really fucked up this year.

Im sure if they miss the PO's, some major changes will happen.

I'm not so sure they would... if Dougie was still around... which he probably will be.

 

[rares]

McLellan also began mixing his lines early in the game.

"Well, I'd be an idiot not to," he said. "Standing behind the bench watching that, nobody really had anything going. You start right away trying to find a combination that would work, and then at the end of the night we're still scrambling around."

He doesn't get it.. like.. AT ALL.

 

[madcap9999]

This team is indeed very hard to coach for the reason you stated and the expectations of the team right when Todd came on. For a rookie coach, I would think that it's harder to step into a situation where the team was expected to contend, as opposed to a rebuild phase.

Here's a question - if Scotty Bowman were running this team do you think the players would play with more fire? I would say yes just because SB is at the helm and the players would do everything they can not to disappoint him. So who do you bring in to make the players play that way? I can only think of a few maybes: Torts, Babcock, or Ruff might fit that bill but they aren't coming to SJ anytime soon. Tippett would be a good choice if he ever becomes available - he's very underrated as a teacher, which is what the Sharks need. Who the hell is teaching (and responsible for) this team on how to make clean outlet passes and get the puck out of their own zone - they are so bad at turnovers and haven't improved all season at that. Plus, half the time the players are just not moving their feet in their own zone - like they're waiting for some divine intervention to bail them out.

 

[MrChangoT97]

Listening to the game lastnight Hedican mentioned more than a dozen times, "that the players need to stop thinking & just play hockey". I wonder if TMac puts too much pressure on the players thinking during the game rather than letting them just play hockey.

 

[Stackem]

More smoke and mirrors masking the real issue. TMac will probably lose his job, but just add him to the long list of coaches and excuses as to why this team can't get it done. This sharks team will sink ANY coach. Even if Scotty Bowman came out of retirement, due to lack of heart, compitition, leadership and desire to win, they would still fail. If I were one of the top coaches in the league with my pick of any job, there is no way I would fall for the 'talent' trap of the Sharks. Not happening.

 

[SJVP408]

Here's a question - if Scotty Bowman were running this team do you think the players would play with more fire? I would say yes just because SB is at the helm and the players would do everything they can not to disappoint him. So who do you bring in to make the players play that way? I can only think of a few maybes: Torts, Babcock, or Ruff might fit that bill but they aren't coming to SJ anytime soon. Tippett would be a good choice if he ever becomes available - he's very underrated as a teacher, which is what the Sharks need. Who the hell is teaching (and responsible for) this team on how to make clean outlet passes and get the puck out of their own zone - they are so bad at turnovers and haven't improved all season at that. Plus, half the time the players are just not moving their feet in their own zone - like they're waiting for some divine intervention to bail them out.

I would also say yes, but who knows. No coach thus far has been able to get 100% out of PattyJo 100% of the time. At what point is it 'just the way it is'?

I don't think Todd is a bad coach, I just think he isn't right for this team. This team needs a kick in the ass nearly everyday. Yes that act gets tiring and players eventually phase out coaches like that, but the way I look at it, this team has huge expectations. If a coach can't do it (win the Cup) within 3-4 years, his ass will be canned anyways. Whether the players like him or not, because the fans will want it all. Some of us here are already calling for his head after he led the team to two final four appearances. Who cares right? What have you done for me lately.

I had no clue what Todd was like when he first came on. I knew he won a Calder Cup and won while on Babcock's bench in DET. Todd could have evolved into a more fiery coach as he grew into his role and formed his own identity. I don't expect any rookie coach to come in and start pounding his fist on the table expecting the vet players to listen. But in year 2, year 3, start growing that part of his coaching aspect. Because the team needed it.

 

[abaskin18]

It clicked right off the bat too with him SJ. I can only speculate as to why he hasn't been able to get them to play like that in the years that have followed.

I'm not sure that a new coach is the answer because who knows who'll be avail, but all signs point to his exit without a finals appearance, fair or not.

 

[Mr. Teal]

Nope. I'm not about to jump on the "Fire McClellan" bandwagon because the team's leaders have no fire in them.

 

[MrChangoT97]

Right now, i'd say he quits before Doug gets the chance to fire him.

 

[Destroydacre]

If it were up to me I'd get rid of Dougie first. Then evaluate coaching options. Shaw and Woodcroft should be cut loose. IMO they're not coaching worthy in the ECHL. As for McLellan, wait and see who is/becomes available in the offseason.

 

[rares]

If it were up to me I'd get rid of Dougie first. Then evaluate coaching options. Shaw and Woodcroft should be cut loose. IMO they're not coaching worthy in the ECHL. As for McLellan, wait and see who is/becomes available in the offseason.

Well, yeah, of course I'd love to keep McLellan over Dougie but that would never happen since it's much easier to "shake up" the team by getting rid of the coaching staff, etc.

 

[caliraftdude]

LOL.. that's a low blow.

I'm torn. I really like McLellan as a dude. He seems like he'd be awesome to talk to or whatever. I just think he's proving to be in WAY over his head with this job he's got. This is not an easy team to manage (too many slackers) and it needs a certain (no-nonsense, ride them hard, etc.) type of coach... he's not that coach, unfortunately.

If memory serves, Wilson was pretty vocal about calling out some of the slackers (iirc, Marleau found his name on the board of shame a lot). I am not saying thats better or worse than Todd's approach - but it seemed to get about the same result.

The top players have not been the dominant players they were in the past but our 3rd and 4th lines haven't been much help either. I like Todd as well, and your critique can be read as "he's tried everything else and has run out of ideas on what he CAN do to get something out of his crew".

I am not sure which it is but I am pretty sure we are not getting anywhere with the team we are watching right now. They have some games to pull it together but I am not feeling it at all right now.

 

[MacJ88]

Every coach has a shelf life and McLellan's is up. I feel for the guy, like rares said, he seems like a good guy and would be fun to talk hockey with him. However, his approach, his way of doing things, his philosophy are not being bought by the players right now. It's blatantly obvious that there is absolutely nothing Todd McLellan can say or do to get these guys to play better or harder, once that becomes evident, which it clearly has, it's time to find somebody that can. They need a coach that can instill some life into this group because right now they are LIFELESS!