Coaches on the Hot Seat

Nov 12, 2013; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; San Jose Sharks head coach Todd McLellan on his bench against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. San Jose Sharks won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

Todd McLellan

It’s not that McLellan is a bad coach or hasn’t won games.  Quite the contrary: in six seasons with the San Jose Sharks, McLellan has guided his team to a 271-130-57 record with six playoff appearances to boot.  He’s seen his teams finish first in the Pacific Division three times during his tenure and has even watched the Sharks snag a President’s Trophy in 2008/09.  You can make the argument that the Sharks have been the best regular season team with McLellan as the coach.

But those playoffs?  Oh, those playoffs.

For a variety of reasons, McLellan has been unable to coach the Sharks into its first Stanley Cup Finals’ appearance, let alone a championship.  Twice his teams were ousted in the Conference Finals, a feat last accomplised in 2011.  It also hasn’t helped his job stability that he coached a team that choked away a 3-0 series lead to the eventual-Stanley Cup winning L.A. Kings this past spring.

The team has pulled out all the tricks this summer from letting veterans leave (Dan Boyle) to stripping captains of their “C” (Joe Thornton).  The last display, ripping the “C” off Thornton’s chest, appears to be the final act of a coach and organization that knows there will be changes at the first extended slump.

Hot Seat O’Meter: 7 out of 10 he doesn’t last the season.