San Jose, CA (Best E Casino) - The San Jose Sharks have called a news conference for 2 p.m. (et) Thursday, at which time they are expected to name Detroit Red Wings assistant Todd McLellan their new head coach.

The Detroit Free Press reports McLellan, who was assistant to Red Wings coach Mike Babcock the past three years, agreed to a three-year deal with the Sharks. The newspaper reports McLellan was interviewed this past weekend by Sharks general manager Doug Wilson, and it went so well that McLellan canceled a meeting set for later this week in Atlanta to discuss the Thrashers head coaching position.

Before joining the current Stanley Cup champion Red Wings, the 40-year-old McLellan spent four seasons as head coach of the Houston Aeros in the American Hockey League. He led the Aeros to the 2003 Calder Cup championship. The Aeros went 154-111-37-18 under his watch.

McLellan would replace Ron Wilson, who was relieved of his duties after the Sharks bowed out in the second round of the playoffs. Wilson piloted the Sharks to a 49-23-10 record in the 2007-2008 regular season. Though San Jose finished with the second-best mark in the Western Conference, the club fell in the conference semifinals to the Dallas Stars, the second consecutive year they've failed to win more than one playoff round.

A native of Melville, Saskatchewan, McLellan was drafted by the New York Islanders in 1986 and spent two seasons playing in the AHL with Springfield. He also played in five games for the Islanders during the 1987-88 season.

The hiring of McLellan would give the Sharks seven head coaches in their 17- year history.