After relieving Dean Evason and Bob Woods of their coaching duties this afternoon, the Minnesota Wild have announced that they have hired John Hynes as Head Coach. Hynes is an eight-year veteran NHL Head Coach, split between two teams.
Hynes was first named Head Coach of the New Jersey Devils in 2015. He coached them for four seasons, going 150-159-45 in 354 games. He left New Jersey in 2019.
Hynes was then hired as the Head Coach of the Nashville Predators. He served for parts of four seasons, from 2020-2023. The Predators went 134-96-18 in 248 games under his coaching. They also qualified for the playoffs in three consecutive seasons, from 2020-22.
Before his time as an NHL Head Coach, Hynes was the Head Coach of the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins in the American Hockey League. He was first hired as an assistant coach for the 2009-10 season. He was then elevated to the role of Head Coach for five seasons, from 2010-15. Hynes coached the Penguins to the Calder Cup Playoffs for five consecutive seasons. He was named Coach of the Year in 2011. During four of his five seasons as Head Coach, the Penguins allowed the fewest goals in the AHL.
Hynes is coming into an interesting situation with the Wild. Currently sitting as the 30th team in the league, the Wild are struggling to win a game, even though they’ve consistently been the better-looking team. Hynes will be tossed directly into the fire as the Wild play division rival St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night at home followed by a trip to Nashville to face Hynes’s former team, the Predators. Ryan Hartman, who was suspended for two games today, will need to have his spot filled before Tuesday’s game.
