Cup winner takes over in San Jose

The San Jose Sharks hired former Detroit Red Wings assistant Todd McLellan as their head coach yesterday, bringing in a leader with Stanley Cup credentials to replace the fired Ron Wilson. McLellan will be formally introduced at a news conference today.

"It's a very good feeling," McLellan said in a statement released by the team. "From the first moment [GM Doug Wilson] called to the moment he offered the job, I felt comfortable. I think the Sharks have done a tremendous job. You don't get that close to 50 wins for a number of years in a row without a lot of talent. It's a matter of getting over the hump. There are some real parallels between the Wings and the Sharks."

* Dallas Stars defenseman Mattias Norstrom, 36, retired, ending a 14-year career that included stops with the New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings.

* Vancouver Canucks forward Trevor Linden, 38, retired, 20 years to the day after the team drafted him into the league.

* Detroit coach Mike Babcock signed a 3-year contract extension worth about $4.5 million. *