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McLellan might not have out clause tied to Wilson firing after all

Todd McLellan

San Jose Sharks head coach Todd McLellan answers questions during a news conference in San Jose, Calif., Wednesday, April 29, 2009, the after day the Anaheim Ducks knocked them out of the first-round of the NHL hockey playoffs. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

AP

A report claiming Sharks head coach Todd McLellan could opt out of his contract if GM Doug Wilson is fired is inaccurate, according to a source of CSN Bay Area’s Kevin Kurz.

On Saturday, Sportsnet’s Damien Cox said if Wilson “were to be fired as general manager, McLellan has an option in his contract to become a free agent and he would be available to other teams in the NHL without compensation.”

McLellan has one year remaining left on an extension signed in June of 2013. There are a number of teams that would reportedly be interested in his services, but could be scared off by the possibility of having to pay to acquire him -- according to an earlier TSN report, this summer the league will begin re-instituting draft pick compensation for teams that hire coaches, GMs or other executives away from other NHL clubs.

TSN said the price would be a third-round pick if the hire happens after the season, and a second-rounder if it happens in-season.

The Sharks’ season will soon come to a close. The team is set to miss the postseason for the first time in over a decade, and there are rumblings of a shakeup either behind the bench, in the front office... or both.

McLellan, 47, has a 310-161-66 career record as the head coach of the Sharks, and became the second-fastest coach in NHL history to reach 300 wins on Feb. 13.