Earlier today on Brady & Walker,(SN590), Elliotte Friedman discussed the potential hirings of Todd McLellan and Mike Babcock. One of them is apparently already off of the board.
Via Friedman on Sportsnet 590, The Fan:
I think, Greg, you always have to worry it could break down. That’s why I didn’t come out and say Todd McLellan’s going to be the next head coach of the Edmonton Oilers, because, as far as I know, there’s no signature. And until there is a signature, anything can happen.
Continued:
If Todd McLellan’s the coach, and I think he will be, you don’t want to make the announcement while he’s coaching in Prague, you want to do it when he’s back in Edmonton. But, look, there are people who are a lot more knowledgable than I am who think the deal is going to get done, so that’s what I base it on. I think it’s going to get done barring a major collapse.
Listen to Friedman’s spot here.
None of this is surprising. Flyers were apparently interested in Todd McLellan, and then they weren’t. There have been plenty of talks about the Oilers going out and getting McLellan to prevent themselves from waiting around for a Babcock decision and losing out on both esteemed coaches.
Looks like it has finally come to fruition. Like Friedman mentioned, nothing’s formal until there’s a signature and the deal is announced, which he believes will come at the consummation of the World Championships over in Prague. Philadelphia’s now out of the running for one coach many thought would be an ideal reasonable candidate to come in and take the reigns for the 2015-16 season.
But you know what that means — there’s now one less team in the Babcock sweepstakes. Friedman didn’t think Edmonton was a top contender for his services anyway, but we’re starting to see teams get picked off one by one.
