FEATURE: McLellan gets a 'fresh base' to work with in his return

EDMONTON, AB - There was going to be an announcement. The only unknown was when.
But on Friday, Oilers President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Peter Chiarelli declared coaching changes.

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Todd McLellan, Edmonton's bench boss for the past three seasons, will remain as head coach.
Former Oilers Assistant Coach Jay Woodcroft has accepted a position as the Bakersfield Condors Head Coach. It will mark the first time in his professional career that he's been in the role.
The Oilers also relieved Assistant Coach Jim Johnson of his duties and did not exercise the option on Assistant Coach Ian Herbers' contract.
"I wanted to give Todd a fresh base," said Chiarelli of Friday's announcements. "You can look at a lot of the areas where we struggled this past year: You could say player personnel, you could say special teams or a number of different things but I think when you get a fresh perspective, it gives Todd a fresh perspective and it gives the players a fresh perspective.
"At the end of the day, that was really the objective: To give him a new base. That's what we're setting out to do."
The Oilers general manager expressed his unwavering support for the returning coach.
"He sees trends and knows how to connect with the players," Chiarelli said. "I've seen Todd do it in a number of different forms and a number of different years. I believe he has the energy, enthusiasm and the tactical mind to address it. I feel very strongly in him."
McLellan, Edmonton's 14th NHL head coach, has a 786-game tenure in the League. He ranks seventh in winning percentage (.597) among active coaches through the 2017-18 season. He's compiled a 114-109-23 record in 246 games with the Oilers franchise, bringing them to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2016-17.
"I'm excited about getting the opportunity to come back and try to move our team forward," McLellan, 50, said Friday.
Changes have been made but there's been no deviation from past off-seasons. McLellan's continued trying to improve for the next 82-game schedule these past few weeks. To phrase it in a way he has before: Steady on the rudder.
"We've continued to work hard and focus on the things we normally do at the end of a season," the coach said. "Wrapping things up and getting things prepared for the next year. That's what hockey coaches do. That's what we did.
"But now some decisions have been made and we've got to move on and improve as a hockey club."
Amid Friday's shuffling, vacancies still remain to McLellan's left and right. Assistant coaches will have to be appointed at some time. Two or three of them.
"It's how they look at the game and how we're going to group the coaches together," said Chiarelli of the assistant coach interviewing process. "How they're compatible with each other, not just with Todd. What strength and weakness do they have. You have to look at each candidate, identify their strengths and see how they fit with possible other candidates.
"I'm looking at forming a team."

As far as the on-ice ice product, assessments are still being done. Everything from game starts, to strategy and the handling of players, is under the microscope.
"We weren't good enough from Day 1 on," McLellan, the Melville, SK, product said by phone from his home province. "You've got to look at the start, you've got to look at training camp. We're reviewing the way we play and systematically what we did. The way we approach players may be changed as well. There's a lot of reflection that goes on, but quite frankly, that happens in every season.
"You could win the Stanley Cup and you do that reflection year in and year out. It's just that we're reflecting on a poor season and when you do have a poor season, you tend to make more change."
In a game that's also ever-changing, McLellan said he's constantly procuring knowledge in his title. Learning about the rigours of hockey, about players, about winning and losing.
"You learn every day as a coach," he said. "You learn that relationships can change and evolve. That players hear things differently. That expectation can affect people both positively and negatively. That the game changes and evolves quickly. There's a lot of things that coaches learn, win or lose, on a daily basis."
He's learned lots about his team, his staff and the organization since he came on board on May 19, 2015. He's experienced highs and lows with the club and maintains the desire to push forth with the goal he accepted the day he was welcomed.
"I was hired and put in place to move the team forward," McLellan said. "We had done that until this season. We took a step back.
"I have confidence in myself, I have confidence in Peter, and I have confidence in the organization and the players that we can get back where we need to."