Todd McLellan is basically the NHL's version of a master architect who specialized in blueprints but sometimes struggled with the final interior design. If you've ever looked closely at the todd mclellan teams coached over the last two decades, you see a pattern that’s almost eerie in its consistency. He arrives at a franchise that is underachieving or stuck in the mud, installs a rigid, high-functioning system, and suddenly, they’re a juggernaut. But then? The wall hits.
Honestly, it's one of the most fascinating coaching arcs in modern hockey. He's a guy who has won over 600 games, yet he’s often remembered for the "what ifs" in San Jose or the sudden collapses in LA. He isn't a "vibe" coach. He’s a "structure" coach.
The San Jose Sharks: The Peak of the "Professor"
When the San Jose Sharks hired McLellan in 2008, they were already a good team, but they needed a brain transplant. He came over from the Detroit Red Wings, where he’d just won a Stanley Cup as an assistant under Mike Babcock. He brought that "Red Wings Way" to Northern California, and man, did it work.
In his first season (2008-09), the Sharks didn't just win; they demolished the league. They grabbed the Presidents' Trophy with 117 points. Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Dan Boyle were playing some of the most efficient hockey of their careers.
But this is where the McLellan paradox begins.
For six straight seasons, the Sharks were a playoff fixture. They reached the Conference Finals in 2010 and 2011. They were the team everyone feared in October, yet by May, they always seemed to run out of answers. The most painful moment? 2014. The Sharks were up 3-0 in a series against the Kings. They lost four straight. It was a historic collapse that basically signaled the beginning of the end for his tenure in San Jose.
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- Total Regular Season Wins with Sharks: 311
- Playoff Appearances: 6 in 7 years
- Best Finish: Conference Finals (Twice)
By 2015, both sides knew it was over. He left as the winningest coach in franchise history, a title he still holds today.
The Edmonton Oilers: Trying to Fix the Unfixable
Edmonton was a mess when Todd arrived in 2015. They had Connor McDavid, sure, but they had no defensive spine. McLellan was brought in to be the adult in the room.
The 2016-17 season was the highlight. He led the Oilers to 103 points, their first 100-point season since the Gretzky era in the 80s. They actually won a playoff round, beating his old Sharks team. People in Edmonton thought the rebuild was finally over.
It wasn't.
The following year, the wheels fell off. Special teams tanked. The "structure" that worked so well the year before started feeling like a straitjacket to the young stars. McLellan was fired 20 games into the 2018-19 season. It felt abrupt, but that’s the NHL. You can only lose so many games with the best player in the world before the GM looks for a new voice.
The Los Angeles Kings and the Return to Detroit
In 2019, the Los Angeles Kings took a gamble. They were in the middle of a painful rebuild after their Cup-winning core aged out. McLellan was the "rebuild specialist" now.
He did exactly what he does: he took a young, aimless group and made them defensively sound. By 2021, the Kings were back in the playoffs. They were annoying to play against. They clogged the neutral zone. They were "Todd McLellan" through and through.
But history repeated itself. After back-to-back first-round exits against Edmonton (ironic, right?), the Kings hit a massive slump in early 2024. They lost 14 of 17 games. The players looked exhausted by the system. GM Rob Blake, who played for McLellan in San Jose, had to fire his old friend in February 2024.
Now, as of the 2024-25 season, McLellan has come full circle back to the Detroit Red Wings. He’s the head man now, trying to get a storied franchise back into the postseason for the first time in nearly a decade.
Why the "Todd McLellan Way" Matters
If you're looking for a coach to take a team from 60 points to 100, there isn't anyone better. He teaches habits. He fixes the power play. He makes sure the third-line center knows exactly where to stand on a defensive zone draw.
The knock on him has always been his "Plan B." Critics argue that when the playoffs get tight and the other team makes an adjustment, Todd is too slow to deviate from his system. He trusts the process, even when the process is failing.
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But you can't argue with the resume. Across the todd mclellan teams coached, you see a man who stabilized three different franchises. He has a .583 points percentage over 1,100+ games. That isn't luck.
Actionable Insights for Hockey Fans
- Watch the Neutral Zone: When you watch the current Red Wings under McLellan, look at how they defend the blue line. He uses a 1-3-1 or a heavy 1-2-2 trap that forces teams to dump the puck.
- Follow the Power Play: He’s a power-play savant. If his team’s man-advantage falls below 20%, it's usually a sign that he's losing the room.
- Look for the "Third Year Jump": Most McLellan teams peak in years two and three. That’s when the "Professor’s" lessons have fully sunk in.
If your team is lost at sea, you hire Todd McLellan. He’ll find the shore. Whether he can lead you to the treasure at the top of the mountain is still the only question left to answer in his career.