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NHL Power Rankings: Who is the best head coach in the league?

By Dave Stevenson

Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; A general view of the NHL shield logo before the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; A general view of the NHL shield logo before the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

#20: John Hynes

Want an NHL head coach who is likely going to skyrocket up these rankings over the next few seasons? A good bet for that is New Jersey Devils head coach John Hynes. Through roster utilization and starting the process of updating the Devils to the 21st century NHL that is more open than the 1990’s, Hynes has done about as good of a job as anyone could have expected. He had the Devils in playoff contention until his best player Mike Cammalleri got injured.

It is quite telling that when former Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ray Shero was hired by the Devils, he immediately targeted Hynes as a head coaching candidate. Hynes worked his way up in the Penguins system to be one of the most underrated coaches in the American Hockey League. Shero saw things in Hynes that other teams didn’t and hired him. He’s looked brilliant for doing so.

John Hynes is still growing and he needs to gain more coaching experience to get higher on the list. However, judging by how quickly he has made the Devils go from awful to borderline playoff contenders, he should fly up this list as the Devils rebuild their depleted system. He probably should be getting Jack Adams consideration, but he won’t.

Next: #19: Dave Hakstol

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