From Mark Purdy of the San Jose Mercury News:
To review: Early in Wilson’s coaching search, my prediction was that he would hire a minor league coach with a fresh, aggressive personality. I based this on Wilson’s public and private statements about the qualities he was seeking. My hunch pick was Kevin Dineen, coach of the Portland Pirates in Maine.
I soon regretted that call. This happened when I noticed a story about McLellan and the Colorado job opening (which eventually went to Tony Granato).
In that story, which appeared in the Denver Post and featured an interview with McLellan, he was asked about the style of hockey he preferred.
“I’d like to coach a high-tempo, fast, puck-possession-type team,” McLellan said.
Read the entire article here.
Obviously coaches are never a guarantee, however, there is nothing about McLellan that makes me think he won’t be successful. He has the experience at all levels, the eagerness, an offensive mind and, of course, the talent of the San Jose roster.
