Sharks finalize coaching staff

From David Pollak of the San Jose Mercury News:

The Sharks made it official today, naming Trent Yawney, Todd Richards and Jay Woodcroft as assistant coaches for the coming season.

Those names have all been circulating here and elsewhere, but the one real bit of real news in the series of announcements being made today is that Corey Schwab has been hired as the team’s goalie development coach. Assistant General Manager Wayne Thomas will continue to work with Sharks goalies at the NHL level, with Schwab — most recently a scout and assistant goalie coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning — working with prospects at Worcester and elsewhere.

Read the entire post from Working the Corners here.

The above coaching staff had been rumored to have been all but hired as recently as Monday, so no real surprises here.

McLellan prepares for the season

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.

Read the entire article here.

By all accounts, McLellan should be a great hire in San Jose. The team has all the talent in the world, and is arguably the second-best team in the NHL heading into the 2008/09 season.

Trent Yawney could become assistant coach in San Jose

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.

Read the entire article here.

I think this would be a solid hire. It think it is a good idea to have someone with NHL head coaching experience on a staff with a rookie NHL coach.