Predators announce John Hynes as head coach

The Nashville Predators announced John Hynes as their next head coach on Tuesday.

Hynes previously served as the head coach of the New Jersey Devils but was fired on Dec. 3 as the club struggled out of the gate.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to join an organization with a history of success, a team with immense talent and a phenomenal fanbase," Hynes said in a press release. "This organization has a strong foundation, from its ownership and executives to the entire front-office staff, and I'm excited to come in and try to maximize this team's abilities."

Nashville fired Peter Laviolette on Jan. 6. Laviolette was hired ahead of the 2014-15 season and the team went 248-143-60 under his watch. The 55-year-old is likely best known for leading the Carolina Hurricanes to their lone Stanley Cup victory in 2005-06.

"John Hynes is a bright young coach and great leader who has a track record of both effectively developing young players and successfully motivating veterans," Predators general manager David Poile said. "We love his coaching resume and are confident that he has learned from every stop during his career, and has the best skill set to get the maximum potential out of our team."

Hynes posted a cumulative 150-159-45 record during his tenure with the Devils, taking over as their head coach in 2015-16. Prior to joining the Devils, Hynes spent five seasons as the head coach of the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, making the playoffs each year.

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