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Devils hire John Hynes as head coach

By Matt Verderame

Apr 7, 2015; Newark, NJ, USA; New Jersey Devils goalie Cory Schneider (35) makes a save during the first period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2015; Newark, NJ, USA; New Jersey Devils goalie Cory Schneider (35) makes a save during the first period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New Jersey Devils have hired head coach John Hynes, according to multiple reports. Hynes has never coached in the National Hockey League before, coming to New Jersey after serving as the head coach for the American Hockey League’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins over the past five years.

At only 40 years old, Hynes is the youngest head coach in the NHL.

Hynes has a connection to the Devils’ new general manager Ray Shero. Shero was hired earlier this offseason to replace Hall of Fame general manager Lou Lamoriello, who will stay on with the franchise in a different front-office capacity. Shero was in the Penguins organization from 2006-14, sitting in the genera manager’s chair when Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin to the Stanley Cup in 2008-09.

"“John Hynes is an individual with extensive coaching experience on the collegiate, professional and national levels,” Shero told the Devils website. “He has been successful at each one and we are fully confident in what he will bring to the Devils organization.”"

Throughout his five years with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Hynes led the Penguins into the playoffs each year but could not win the Calder Cup. Despite rumors that the Devils were trying to close deals with Mike Babcock and Dan Blysma, Shero insists that Hynes was the only man to actually get a contract offer.

"“I had a very short list to start with,” Shero said. “I talked to a number of different coaches about philosophies. Not about the Devils job in particular. … I did not offer this job to anyone other than John Hynes.”"

Hynes is taking over a team with some building blocks but plenty of work to go before being a contender. After winning three Stanley Cups from 1995-2003 and reaching the Finals in 2012, New Jersey has fallen on hard times with the departures of Ilya Kovalchuk, David Clarkson and Zach Parise. Goaltender Corey Schneider is fantastic, but the offense is absolutely pathetic and the defense is young but talented.

New Jersey had an insane situation last season after firing former head coach Peter DeBoer on Dec. 26. Lamoriello, Scott Stevens and Adam Oates became co-head coaches for the remainder of the year, leading to a horrid 78 points. Not having made the playoffs over the last three years, this proud franchise is looking for a change in direction.

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