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Coach Todd McLellan, San Jose Sharks part ways after seven seasons

The Sharks fired Coach Todd McLellan after seven seasons.

The Sharks fired Coach Todd McLellan after seven seasons.

(Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press)
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After seven seasons of great regular-season success and playoff disappointments, Coach Todd McLellan and the San Jose Sharks decided it was time for a change.

The Sharks announced Monday that they had agreed to part ways with the winningest coach in franchise history after the team missed the playoffs for the first time since 2003.

With the Sharks committed to a youth movement and McLellan having just one year on his contract, the two sides agreed it was time to make a change.

“This team is clearly in a rebuild,” McLellan said. “With one year left, heading forward I had to analyze where everything was going. I felt with some of the answers I got that it was time.”

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McLellan had a 311-163-66 regular-season record with the Sharks, the third best in the league since he took over before the 2008-09 season. But San Jose finished 12th out of 14 teams in the Western Conference this season and missed the postseason, leading to the change.

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Washington Capitals center Eric Fehr will miss at least the next two playoff games against the New York Islanders because of an upper-body injury. Fehr was hurt in Washington’s 2-1 overtime loss to the Islanders on Sunday. Fehr didn’t return after being checked heavily to the ice by Islanders forward Kyle Okposo about four minutes in.

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The Detroit Red Wings left wing Justin Abdelkader in their lineup Tuesday for Game 3 of their playoff series with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Abdelkader, who scored a career-high 23 goals this season, hasn’t played since April 4 because of a hand injury.

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Vancouver Canucks forward Alexandre Burrows will not be suspended for an instigator penalty he received Sunday after an incident with Calgary Flames defenseman Kris Russell in Game 3 of their series. Game 4 is Tuesday in Calgary.

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