From John Niyo of the Detroit News:
Former Red Wings defenseman Brad McCrimmon likely will be back on the bench at Joe Louis Arena next season. General manager Ken Holland confirmed he's in negotiations with McCrimmon to fill the vacant assistant coaching position on Mike Babcock's staff.
From David Pollak of the San Jose Mercury News:
Even before returning to San Jose, McLellan had been laying the groundwork for what lies ahead.
He and Doug Wilson, for example, have been assembling a staff of assistant coaches that is expected to be announced early next week. One name almost sure to be on the list is Trent Yawney, one-time coach of the Chicago Blackhawks and a former teammate of the Sharks' G.M.
McLellan also has been in touch with many of his players.
From the San Jose Mercury News:
One name reportedly receiving strong consideration is Trent Yawney, a former NHL defenseman with ties to both McLellan and Doug Wilson, as well as previous experience as an NHL head coach. Yawney, 42, was McLellan's teammate for two seasons with the Saskatoon Blades in the mid-1980s; later, Yawney played alongside Wilson with the Chicago Blackhawks and coached that team in 2005-07.
From David Pollak of the San Jose Mercury News:
McLellan talked with certainty about some things - the need to establish a system that demands his players use speed up the middle to enter the offensive zone, then fire the puck at the net frequently once they get there.
He was less specific about others. Coaches, for example, generally choose team captains, and while McLellan said he knows of no reason not to keep Patrick Marleau in that role, "in fairness to everybody involved, I would like to have the opportunity to sit down with him and talk about leadership and the responsibilities that go with it."
Still, one overriding message being delivered was that McLellan was brought to San Jose to get the most out of the assembled talent - and not by coddling.
Coaches, he said, are smart enough to know that players "can't be at their elite level all the time."
But, he quickly added, "A coach has to create an environment where a player wants to expend an extra ounce of energy, he wants to give a little bit more to his teammates, he wants to push himself when he doesn't feel like he should be pushed anymore."
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.
From Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press:
One of Mike Babcock's first orders of business, now that he has his extension out of the way, will be to find at least one new assistant coach.
Todd McLellan will be announced as the Sharks' new head coach tomorrow. McLellan was assistant to Babcock the past three years.
