NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Nashville Predators have hired former coach John Hynes as the third coach in franchise history after firing Peter Laviolette.
The Predators announced the hiring Tuesday morning before a morning skate. Nashville hosts Boston on Tuesday night.
General manager David Poile said in a news release that Hynes is a bright young coach with a track record of both developing young players and motivating veterans. Poile says they are confident Hynes can get the most out of the Predators.
Hynes was 150-149-5 as head coach with the New Jersey Devils, who fired him Dec. 3 despite signing him to a multiyear extension last January. The Devils fired him after a 9-13-4 start that left New Jersey in last place in the Metropolitan Division and with the NHL’s second-worst record.
Poile fired Laviolette and assistant coach Kevin McCarthy on Monday after the Predators (19-15-7) had dropped four of six. They are 11th in the Western Conference standings with 45 points.
