Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, goes the rumour-mill cliche.
And free agent coach Todd McLellan has poured gasoline on speculation that he could be the next head coach of the Edmonton Oilers.
Speaking to the Edmonton Sun‘s Terry Jones in Prague, Team Canada’s bench boss confirmed he interviewed for the job with new Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli, who flew oversees to meet with the candidate.
“Edmonton has always been an interesting spot for many people, I think,” McLellan told the Sun. “It’s a team with a rich history and they have some good players there. Now you add in [Connor] McDavid, Bob [Nicholson, CEO] taking over and Peter coming in. I really do think there were good people there before. What job descriptions they end up in, I’m not sure. But there will be a very strong team and group of people there.
“For any coach to consider all of that, it has to be a positive. It has to be exciting, not just for myself but for anybody. With all those good players there, it will eventually get going the right way. I think some of the changes and the No. 1 draft pick on Connor McDavid’s year make it enticing.”
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Adding to the carousel of coaching chatter, NJ.com report states that the 47-year-old McLellan “will not be a serious candidate to succeed Craig Berube” in Philadelphia.
Instead, the outlet reports, the Flyers are making free agent Mike Babcock their No. 1 target.
“And if Babcock stays with the Detroit Red Wings for an 11th season or opts to use his free agent status to go elsewhere,” writes Randy Miller, “then it’s pretty much back to square one for the Flyers, someone with knowledge of management’s plans told NJ Advance Media.”
