Todd McLellan is the new head coach of the Edmonton Oilers.
General manager Peter Chiarelli announced the team’s hiring of the former bench boss of the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday afternoon.
McLellan, 47, coached the Sharks to a 311-163-66 record over seven seasons before he mutually parted ways with them following this past regular season.
His “level of energy, thinking” played a major factor in deciding on hiring him, said Chiarelli.
“He’d taken a team with a number of young players … close to a (Stanley) Cup on a number of occasions, seen what he’d done with those young players,” Chiarelli said during a news conference at the Hotel Macdonald.
“I was very impressed with him, meeting him face to face,” Chiarelli said of visiting McLellan during this month’s world hockey championship in Prague, in which the coach led Canada to a gold medal.
The team included Oilers forwards Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle.
“Having spent time with Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle these past two weeks … (they’re) very enticing and exciting to be around, and I’m looking forward to meeting the rest of them,” McLellan said.
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