Los Angeles Kings hire Todd McLellan as the new head coach
By Jamaal Artis
The Los Angeles Kings’ head coaching vacancy has officially been filled with the hiring of Todd McLellan to a multi-year contract.
On Wednesday afternoon the Los Angeles Kings will introduce Todd McLellan as the 29th head coach in team history.
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Kings confirmed that McLellan had signed a five-year contract worth approximately $5 million annually.
McLellan had been with the Edmonton Oilers during the 2018-19 season but was fired in November after starting the season 9-10-1. McLellan was fired despite being the first coach to guide the Oilers to a playoff berth 2006.
Kings fans should be familiar with McLellan, he started his head coaching career in 2008 with the San Jose Sharks. McLellan guided the Sharks for seven seasons winning three Pacific Division titles and the 2008-09 President’s Trophy as the best record in the regular season.
McLellan was also at the helm in the 2014 playoffs when the Sharks blew a 3-0 lead over the Kings in the first round, the Kings would win the Stanley Cup that year while McLellan was the fall guy when the Sharks missed the playoffs the following season.
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McLellan has his work cut out for him as the Kings are likely to be in a rebuilding process. Coming off their worst season in a decade, the Kings roster is likely to get younger and more inexperienced in the upcoming season.
Despite the tough season, all is not lost for the Kings future, they have the fifth pick in this year’s draft and additional first round pick from the Jake Muzzin trade.
McLellan will also get to work some promising young forwards like Matt Luff, Carl Grundstrom, and Austin Wagner and try to develop them while getting veterans like Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar, and Drew Doughty back to their winning ways.
If McLellan doesn’t succeed in integrating the youth on the roster with the veteran leadership then his appointment can stifle the Kings rebuilding process. It could also mean general manager Rob Blake‘s job.
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Blake played for McLellan late in his career when they were both with the Sharks, this will be his third coach in four years under his front office leadership. If McLellan fails not only will it set back the team but will probably be his last coaching hire.