This comes as no surprise and it was expected for the Sharks. After a disappointing year and many early playoff exits, something had to change. The ending to McLellan’s tenure in San Jose started last offseason when the team didn’t make any significant moves to improve the roster. McLellan was not going to make a great run in the postseason with what he had. So this ending isn’t a surprise.

But should McLellan be the scapegoat? Naturally the thinking for many fans is that the general manager Doug Wilson is the one at fault and he is the one at blame. He assembled the roster and didn’t make any major moves to improve it. And when Joe Thornton called him out, it really painted a picture of potential issues within the organization.

So what happens here? I don’t know but it’s tough seeing him go. Even though I expected it, it’s not easy saying farewell to a coach who brought so much success to this team. But for the Sharks, they have been holding on to the same roster, same coaching staff for so long. A change had to be made. This might not have been the change they had to make, but it was the change they needed. It was time to move on.