Former Devils Head Coach Named Bench Boss for USA at IIHF Mens World Tournament

Former bench boss of the New Jersey Devils, John Hynes, has been named the head coach of Team USA for the upcoming 2024 IIHF Men’s World Tournament.

Hynes (49) was fired by the Devils back in the 2019-20 season after a 9-13-4 start and was replaced by assistant coach Alain Nasreddine.

The former Devils head coach didn’t last on the open market very long. Just over a month later, the Nashville Predators scooped Hynes up and fired Peter Laviolette in the process in pursuit of a more defensive-minded team.

Hynes lasted until May 30, 2023, after parts of four seasons in Nashville.

However, Hynes again didn’t need to wait very long before he was a head coach in the NHL once more. Earlier in the 2023-24 season, the Minnesota Wild fired Dean Evason after a poor start and hired Hynes on November 27th.

Hynes remains the Wild’s head coach despite missing the 2023-24 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

On Tuesday, Devils defenseman Luke Hughes confirmed he will be playing for Team USA at the upcoming world tournament. Other players who are expected to represent the red, white, and blue are Trevor Zegras, Cole Caufield, Zach Werenski, and Jake Sanderson.

As for players Hynes is immediately familiar with, Wild defenseman and likely Calder Trophy candidate Brock Faber and forward Matt Boldy are expected to be named to Team USA as well.

This will be the fourth World Championship tournament Hynes participates in. Previously, Hynes was an assistant coach for Team USA in 2016-17 and 2018-19. However, it won’t be the first time Hynes serves as head coach, doing so in 2015-16 following his first season behind the Devils’ bench.

In each season over the last five seasons, Hynes has accrued over a .500 win percentage.

The Wild were 34-24-5 in 63 games with Hynes behind the bench, collecting 73 points which translates to about a 95-point pace in 82 games.

In other words, the Wild’s coaching change still wouldn’t have been enough to catch any of the teams to clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the West.

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