Todd McLellan left the Sharks as mutually as any breakup can be. McLellan wanted a new challenge and Sharks players seemed ready for a new voice in the locker room. Of the available coaches, the Sharks could have done much worse than Pete DeBoer — but the reaction to his hiring was met with relief more than excitement.
That might be unfair to DeBoer, who helped guide the Sharks back to the playoffs this season. As with any sport, the value of a coach is difficult to assess. I believe a bad coach can hurt a team much more than a good one can help them as even the best coaches have their quirks about them.