- The Wild signed head coach John Hynes to a multi-year extension Tuesday, two days before training camp opens
- Hynes is 125-78-24 in three seasons in Minnesota and won the franchise’s first playoff series since 2015 last spring
- Read below for Bill Guerin’s take on his coach and what the Wild still have left to sort out
John Hynes isn’t going anywhere in Minnesota.
The Wild announced Tuesday that they have signed their head coach to a multi-year contract extension. Terms weren’t released, and the new deal kicks in after this season. Hynes was set to coach out the final year of his contract before camp opens Thursday.
None of this landed as a shock. Michael Russo of The Athletic reported in late August that the two sides were closing in, and that the announcement would come as camp approached. We covered that report three weeks ago. That call landed almost to the day.
Hynes took over on Nov. 27, 2023, the same day Minnesota fired Dean Evason. He has gone 125-78-24 since, a .604 clip that ranks eighth in the league in points over those three seasons.
Last season was the payoff. The Wild put up 104 points, finished third in the West, and beat Dallas in six games for the franchise’s first playoff series win since 2015. Colorado ended it in the second round.
Guerin was asked at May’s end-of-season press conference whether Hynes would be back after some fans called for a change. He didn’t leave much room for interpretation:
“I thought John did a great job this year. You guys know I’m a big believer in John and what he does and how he operates. I see it first-hand.”
Watch the full session with Guerin and Hynes:
Communication was what he leaned on hardest that day. He described sitting in Hynes’ office several times a year to hash out the message to the room, the power play and the penalty kill.
“It’s not just, ‘This is what I say. I’m cramming it down your throat. Do it.’ He gives them the reason why.”
Now 51, Hynes enters his 12th season as an NHL head coach. He is 409-333-87 in 829 games between New Jersey, Nashville and Minnesota, and he ranks fourth among American-born coaches in both wins and games behind the bench.
One big piece of business is still open. Quinn Hughes is in the last year of his deal and eligible to extend, and he said last week that he isn’t in a hurry to get it done before the season. Guerin has his coach locked up. The defenseman is the harder call.
Minnesota opens the regular season at Nashville on Oct. 1.
