EDMONTON, Alberta — The Edmonton Oilers have hired Todd McLellan as their coach after a season in which they again failed to make the playoffs.
The Oilers announced the hiring at a news conference Tuesday. McLellan appeared to be Edmonton’s top choice since Peter Chiarelli became general manager this month.
Todd Nelson replaced Dallas Eakins as coach in December. McLellan spent the past seven seasons as the San Jose Sharks’ coach, making the playoffs in his first six. He has a career record of 311-163-66 during the regular season but is 30-32 in the playoffs.
Before joining the Sharks, he was an assistant on Mike Babcock’s staff in Detroit. McLellan coached Canada to a gold medal at the world hockey championship in Prague on Sunday.
The Oilers finished next to last in the Pacific Division and have not made the playoffs since going to the Stanley Cup final in 2006.
Thumbnail photo via Matt Kartozian/USA TODAY Sports Images
