Todd McLellan is a former professional ice hockey player and current coach who has had a successful career in the sport. He began his career as a player in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Saskatoon Blades, where he played for four seasons. During his time with the Blades, McLellan was known for his strong offensive skills and his ability to score goals.
After his time with the Blades, McLellan went on to play for several other teams in the minor leagues, including the Springfield Indians and the New York Islanders. However, he never made it to the NHL as a player.
Despite not making it to the NHL as a player, McLellan found success as a coach. He began his coaching career in the WHL with the Swift Current Broncos, where he led the team to a Memorial Cup championship in 1989. After his success with the Broncos, McLellan went on to coach several other teams in the WHL, including the Medicine Hat Tigers and the Saskatoon Blades.
In 2005, McLellan was hired as an assistant coach for the Detroit Red Wings, where he helped the team win the Stanley Cup in 2008. After his success with the Red Wings, McLellan was hired as the head coach of the San Jose Sharks in 2008. During his time with the Sharks, McLellan led the team to six playoff appearances and two appearances in the Western Conference Finals.
After leaving the Sharks in 2015, McLellan was hired as the head coach of the Edmonton Oilers. During his time with the Oilers, McLellan helped the team make the playoffs in 2017, ending a ten-year playoff drought for the team. However, he was fired from the Oilers in 2018 after a slow start to the season.
In 2019, McLellan was hired as the head coach of the Los Angeles Kings. During his time with the Kings, McLellan has helped the team rebuild and develop its young players. While the team has not yet made the playoffs under McLellan's leadership, he has been praised for his ability to develop young talent and build a strong team culture.
Overall, Todd McLellan has had a successful career in ice hockey as both a player and a coach. While he never made it to the NHL as a player, he has found success as a coach at both the junior and professional levels. He has helped lead several teams to playoff appearances and has been praised for his ability to develop young talent and build strong team cultures.
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