Oilers getting close to hiring coach: report

The Edmonton Oilers are close to hiring their next coach, no later than the end of the month, the Edmonton Journal reported Thursday.

Reports suggest it will be Todd McLellan, who left the San Jose Sharks after coaching them for the past seven seasons. McLellan is in Prague coaching Canada in the IIHF World Championship, which ends Sunday.

McLellan reportedly met with Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli during the tournament.

"I think the [hiring] process is moving forward," Oilers vice president of communications Tim Shipton told the newspaper. "I don’t get the sense that they want it to be a long, drawn-out effort. The process continues. I don't think things are signed, sealed and…