Red Wings name Todd McLellan new head coach

Todd McLellan (Robrovsky, Wikimedia Commons)

The Detroit Red Wings have named Todd McLellan of Melville, Saskatchewan their new head coach according to nhl.com on Boxing Day. McLellan takes over from Derek Lalonde, who was relieved from his duties.

McLellan has spent 16 seasons coaching in the National Hockey League. However, this is his first coaching job in the Eastern Conference, as the other three teams he has been with have been in the Western Conference, specifically the Pacific Division. McLellan was with the San Jose Sharks from 2008 to 2015, the Edmonton Oilers from 2015 to 2019, and the Los Angeles Kings from 2019 to 2024.

In 1144 regular season games coaching in the NHL, McLellan has a record of 598 wins, 412 regulation losses, and 134 losses in extra time for a winning percentage of .581. He made the playoffs for six straight season from 2009 to 2014 with the Sharks, and guided the Oilers to their first playoff spot in a decade during the 2016-17 NHL season.

As well as being a head coach, McLellan was an assistant coach with the Red Wings for three straight seasons from 2005 to 2008. In the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals, the Red Wings beat the Pittsburgh Penguins in six games.

As a player, McLellan spent one season in the NHL as a centre for the New York Islanders in 1987-88. In five games, he had one goal and one assist for two points. He was a -1 with four shots on goal.

The Red Wings have the second fewest points in the Eastern Conference at the moment. With 30 points, only the Sabres have less with 28.

 

 

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