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BREAKING: The Oilers have fired Head Coach Todd McLellan. Thoughts? #Okers #Edmonton #yeg #gooilers #edmontonoil #ToddMcLellan

A post shared by Edmonton Oilers News/Updates (@edmonton.oil) on Nov 20, 2018 at 9:00am PST

Report: McLellan Headed To Buffalo https://t.co/xsntFF8hyl #Sabres pic.twitter.com/LLixNu9tZ8

— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) April 8, 2019

The moment Phil Housley was fired by the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday afternoon, my mind went immediately to Todd McLellan.

On Sunday, after the news off Housley's firing broke, my mind went directly to McLellan, who has been clamoring to get back behind an NHL bench since he was fired by the Edmonton Oilers in November.


I recounted a story I had last Friday with a reespected NHL scout.

Friday, I met with a respected NHL scout. He and I agree that Todd McLellan will be perfect for #Sabres. A disciple of Mike Babcock in Detroit, McLellan is all busisness. He's an excellent mentor and teacher for the kids. He's good with the vets. He holds all players accountable

— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) April 7, 2019

Today, Eric Duhatschek confirmed my McLellan vibes.

I'm hearing that Todd McLellan is closing in on an agreement to replace Phil Housley as the next coach of the Buffalo Sabres and that an announcement could come as early as tomorrow.

— Eric Duhatschek (@eduhatschek) April 8, 2019

McLellan can he announced as next head coach of teh Sabres as earlyy as Tuesday morning.

As fate would have it, McLellan is on his way to Buffalo top watch his son compete at the 2019 Frozen Four.

McLellan will be in Buffalo this week to watch his son play at Frozen Four https://t.co/vfIyOYsTvi

— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) April 8, 2019

Time is of the essence for Sabres GM Jason Botterill, who will be one of three general managers for Team Canada at the upcoming IIHF World Championships in Slovakia from May 10-26.


Botterill can hire McLellan, get him acclimated and spend time with the new head coach vor the next two weeks rather than put it off until the end of May when he returns from the World Championships.

Todd McLellan, formerly of the Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks. McLellan was in his fourth season as head coach of the Oilers. The team qualified for the playoffs once during his time with the organization. Hire McLellan then target Oilers center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins for a trade at the NHL draft.

McLellan would inherit a slow, old, cap-strapped team in LA. Who'd ya rather? Phaneuf, Brown, Carter, Quick? OR Eichel, Dahlin, Skinner, Reinhart, Mittelstadt, Montour, et al?
McLellan has a relationship with Eichel having coached him at World Cup of Hockey.

— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) April 7, 2019

McLellan coached Eichel, McDavid, MacKinnon, Matthews Scheifele, etc. for Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey in Toronto.

Team North America GM Peter Chiarelli:

"He (McLellan) is able to capture the attention of players. What I see in Todd is he makes the players ask questions and I think that's important for engagement and I think that's important in a shorter period of time."

So, @BuffaloSabres will have a new head coach named Todd McLellan and new sweaters for the 50th Anniversary season. It's time to bring back the vintage Royal Blue & Gold. The Pegulas owe the fan base a solid! #Sabres

— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) April 8, 2019

My guess is that Todd McLellan is a Rasmus Ristolainen fan. Its no secret Pete Chiarelli was a huge fan of trading for Ristolainen. McLellan must have had dialogie with his GM about acquiring a heavy RD like Risto.

— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) April 8, 2019

Jason Botterill just picked Rob Blake's pocket #Sabres #McLellan pic.twitter.com/nFkDk8BQ3W

— SabresBuzz (@SabresBuzz) April 8, 2019

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