The Pittsburgh Penguins may be getting another third round draft pick.
Certainly appears as if PIT's AHL coach John Hynes is the likely leading candidate to be next head coach in NJ. Nothing official, mind you.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 1, 2015
If Hynes and NJ finalize an agreement, NJ will have to provide draft pick compensation to PIT.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 1, 2015
When a team (say NJ) ask for permission from another club (say PIT), 1st club basically agrees in principle to pay compensation to 2nd club.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 1, 2015
But specific agreement on which pick (in event 1st team has multiple picks)/which year (over 3 yr term) happens after hiring decision made.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 1, 2015Devils have three 3rd round picks in 2016. https://t.co/2NN1DLItIa
— Todd Cordell (@ToddCordell) June 1, 2015John Hynes is the highly thought of Head Coach in Wilkes Barre/Scranton. He has been on a track to become an NHL Head Coach for some time. It appears that time is now and his employer will be the same man that hired him in WB/S, New Jersey General Manager Ray Shero.
Getting draft pick compensation for a fired coach like Dan Bylsma is an incredibly stupid rule. Getting compensation for a promising coach under contract like John Hynes is more within the spirit of what I think the league intended with all of this.
I personally think John Hynes could be more selective as his promotion to the NHL is inevitable. New Jersey’s current roster situation is the worst in the entire NHL in my opinion. Hopefully that is taken into consideration when his bosses are evaluating him.
Pittsburgh neglected to pursue a third round pick for Ray Shero, but it appears they will seek compensation for losing Hynes. I would target the pick that is actually New Jersey’s. They aren’t going to be good next season and would likely be the best of their three third round picks. Minnesota or Florida would be the other options.
Third round draft picks on their own aren’t really worth all that much. There is a very low percentage for that player making any kind of impact at the NHL level. However, if you start to collect multiple picks you increase your odds of getting lucky and Pittsburgh needs to start getting lucky.
If NJD does hire Hynes & give up a '16 pick, Pens will have 3 in that round..Since 08, Pens have only kept 3rd rounder 4 of 9 years.
— Pensburgh (@Pensburgh) June 1, 2015
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Very good news on the Kris Letang front.
#penguins Kris Letang is back in the gym. He received the green light to start training with intensity. #tvasports
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) June 1, 2015
This won’t erase the trepidation that will be associated with Kris Letang playing in the NHL again, but it is a great sign that progress is being made.
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Brand new Hockey Hurts podcast has a Stanley Cup Final preview as well as thoughts on Bylsma hire. You can find that here
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