Warwick’s Hynes named head coach of New Jersey Devils

Matt Metcalf
Posted 6/4/15

Warwick’s John Hynes was announced as the new head coach of the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League on Tuesday afternoon.

Hynes, who attended Toll Gate High School before enrolling …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Warwick’s Hynes named head coach of New Jersey Devils

Posted

Warwick’s John Hynes was announced as the new head coach of the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League on Tuesday afternoon.

Hynes, who attended Toll Gate High School before enrolling at Boston University, will become the youngest current head coach in the NHL at just 40 years of age.

Hynes was introduced by Devils’ General Manager Ray Shero at Tuesday’s press conference. Shero and Hynes are familiar with one another from their days in the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.

Hynes spent the last five seasons behind the bench for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the American Hockey League affiliate of Pittsburgh.

On Tuesday, it was visible that Hynes was extremely grateful for the opportunity that he has been presented with.

“The opportunity to come to an organization that’s been built the way it has been – with championships, character and leadership – is really exciting for me,” Hynes said. “I’m honored to be the head coach of the New Jersey Devils.”

In five seasons with the AHL Penguins, Hynes compiled a record of 231-126-8-13, making the playoffs in each of those five seasons.

Now, Hynes will look for that AHL success to translate to the NHL for the first time in his career.

But Hynes seemed to be ready to step right in and lead the Devils. His level of familiarity with Shero, along with the track record that the two possess could lead to success in New Jersey.

“I’d like to really thank Ray Shero for the opportunity,” Hynes said. “Ray and I worked well together when we were in the Pittsburgh organization. I felt very comfortable as a coach coming in here knowing how Ray wants to do things. I know how he wants to run the team and what he expects from his coaches.”

However, with a great opportunity comes a tough task.

New Jersey finished in 13th out of 16 teams in the Eastern Conference this season.

Additionally, the Devils posted the fourth-worst goal differential in the conference with a minus-35.

Shero and Johnston native and Devils’ President Lou Lamoriello are confident that Hynes is the right fit for their hockey club, though. Shero mentioned in the press conference that Hynes was the first and only one that was offered the head coaching job.

Hynes began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Boston University under head coach Jack Parker. The Warwick native then made stops as an assistant at UMass-Lowell and the University of Wisconsin before beginning his professional coaching career with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2009. Hynes served as an assistant coach for one season prior to being named head coach of the AHL Penguins.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here