A source familiar with the process told
The Athletic on Thursday that GM Don Waddell’s first choice for the job, former San Jose, Edmonton and
Los Angeles coach Todd McLellan, was no longer considered the leading candidate after contract negotiations between the Jackets, McLellan and his former club, the Kings, fell apart this week.
McLellan’s contract with Los Angeles paid him $5.5 million per season — tops among
NHL bench bosses — and extends through the 2024-25 season. That, essentially, made it a three-way negotiation, with the Blue Jackets needing to negotiate with the Kings to decide how much of McLellan’s salary they would pay for the coming season. The Kings fired McLellan in February.
It’s unclear why the contract talks broke off, but one source within the Blue Jackets said it wasn’t out of the question that the club could circle back to McLellan.