San Jose Sharks coach Todd McLellan hears the talk. He sees the news reports, he's aware of the questions - he knows his seat, his once comfortable NHL head coach seat, is getting considerably warmer.
After his team started a recent stretch of games - a stretch which will see them play 11 of their next 13 in the comfy confines of the SAP Center at San Jose - by dropping a couple of shootouts to the Florida Panthers and the Arizona Coyotes, McLellan sounded a defiant tone about the remaining season's prospects and his potential job security.
"I feel confident with myself and the coaching staff, but I'm also a realist," McLellan said, according to David Pollak of The San Jose Mercury News. "I know that the team hasn't performed to the level that any of us are happy with -- not just ownership and management, but also coaches and players aren't happy with the results."
The Sharks were forced to kick the season off by playing 16 of their first 21 games on the road - no easy feat and an undertaking for which San Jose and McLellan should be given something of a pass. But much more troubling for ownership and fans is the team's 2-3-2 record at home thus far this season.
"I understand the business," McLellan said, "but I can tell you that we show up for work every day and that we put our work boots on and we try to make this group better. And we will over time. We just have to keep at it and see where it goes from there."
Some, including Pierre LeBrun of ESPN, have already surmised that McLellan could be on his way out if the team's prospects don't drastically change during the current home stand.
Sharks general manager Doug Wilson, who stuck with McLellan despite last season's epic playoff collapse, would not be drawn into a conversation about his coach's future.
"We're focused on getting some good practice time under our belts and the next game," Wilson said.
