McLellan looks to meet higher expectations

Edmonton Oilers head coach Todd McLellan knows expectations have risen dramatically in the past year.

Having ended a 10-year playoff drought this spring and falling just one win short of reaching the Western Conference final, McLellan knows where the bar is set heading into the 2017-18 NHL season.

It’s similar to where it was during his time as the San Jose Sharks head coach.

“In Year 3, we have a much better idea of how our players are going to react to different types of coaching and motivational tools, whether that’s a push or a shove or a hug or whatever that might be,” McLellan said following his round at the fourth annual Mark Spector Golf Classic in benefit of Sports Central, which provides used sporting equipment to children in need. “We should have a good idea of what buttons to push with most players. We have a better idea this year of their ceiling and how close they are to it, individually.

“But it’s the collective part of it that concerns our staff coming in. We have to come to camp with a very focused and direct approach. We can’t get casual, we can’t get relaxed, and that’s where we’ll have to step in as a coaching staff.”

Fortunes of the franchise turned with the arrival of Connor McDavid who, in his second year, won the NHL scoring title last season along with the Hart, Art Ross and Ted Lindsay trophies. Unlike other stars around the league, however, McLellan considers McDavid a unique talent.

“I don’t see direct comparisons, I see him taking pieces from different individuals that I’ve been around and I think that’s a real good trait of his,” McLellan said. “He’s Connor McDavid, he’s not Steve Yzerman or Nick Lidstrom or Joe Thornton. He’s Connor McDavid, he has his own way of carrying himself, he has his own way of communicating with us as a coaching staff, his teammates, the fans, the media and soon as an individual.”

That way will not include the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, however, as the NHL decided to forgo the tournament. McDavid voiced his disappointment in the decision Wednesday while at an event in Toronto.

“I think there’s a number of players that were hoping they could participate,” McLellan said. “It’s certainly a special event and you don’t have to be a hockey player, you can be just a regular athlete and want to participate at that level. I understand from the other side, the owners and league management, that they have a number of things from the other side they have to take care of, particularly, the fan that pays to come out and watch club teams play regularly.

“It’s a catch-22 for us, we understand both sides and we have to respect the decision that’s made and continue to try and entertain here in Edmonton.”

McLellan will have the core of his playoff roster back this season with a few exceptions. The Oilers traded forward Jordan Eberle to the New York Islanders for Ryan Strome in their biggest move of the summer.

“He (Strome) is a utility player,” McLellan said. “He has the ability to play centre and has in the past. He’s been able to win faceoffs and he’s comfortable on the wing. We have the luxury of moving players around, and as the fans here know, we like to do that. We like to have utility players that can move in and out from line to line and I think we’re going to have a very motivated Ryan Strome.

“I think he’s focused on coming back and having a very strong year. He’s excited about becoming an Oiler and we can’t wait to get him to come to training camp.”