Coach Owns Up....Again!

Posted 3:38 AM ET | Comments 3

This is just so amazing to me considering we rarely, if ever, heard such things coming from RW. But once again, McLellan attributed the trouble the Sharks encountered in the third to a mistake he made behind the bench:

Coach Todd McLellan volunteered afterward that one reason his team didn't have the legs to compete in the third period was his bench management, that sometimes coaches need to trust players more, even if on occasion they are somewhat irresponsible. By reducing ice time for Jody Shelley and Jamie McGinn (McLennan did not mention names, but the scoresheet makes his reference pretty clear), he overtaxed others.

I don't know about anybody else, but this just makes me so happy! Not only is the team winning games, but it seems that every game is still a learning experience to build off of. I know this may seem strange, since you always want the team to be learning how to improve, but something is different. The team seems to have a whole new energy radiating from within, and the players appear to be thriving under the tutelage of McLellan. We're seeing creativity from the players that would have never happened before, and it's leading to pucks in the net and some of the most entertaining hockey I've ever seen. I know it is still very early on in the season, but if this type of thing (both the coach and players taking responsibility) is going to be a regular occurrence, I can see the team getting even stronger as the season progresses.

For the full article and some additional quotes from tonight's post-game interviews, go here

http://blogs.mercurynews....ctory-over-the-avalanche/

Filed Under: Sharks Coach Players

mattschy

November 3, 2008 9:21 AM ET | Delete
Last year about this time I thought that there was something missing from the Sharks. It didn't look like they were having fun, and they seemed just good enough to lose in the playoffs.This year feels different.

Sharks_12

November 3, 2008 12:31 PM ET | Delete
The tricky part will be to keep players enthused all season and to keep them from developing bad habits

Wingsfan61

November 3, 2008 7:54 PM ET | Delete
I tell you what, McClellan is a very good coach. I hated seeing him leave the Wings but, he deserved his chance and the Sharks are lucky to have him. Watching the game between the Wings and Sharks and the way the Sharks played, they played the way the Wings usually play. All over the opposition and puck control. I still think the Wings are the favorite to win again this year but, it would not surprise me in the least if the Sharks finally have their year.

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