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The John Hynes era is over.
Tuesday the New Jersey Devils announced, after four seasons and change, they’d be going in a different direction behind the bench.
GM Ray Shero made this move on the back of consecutive losses where, in aggregate, the Devils were out-scored 11-1 and left the ice with a sense of embarrassment both times.
While you generally don’t want make franchise altering decisions at the lowest possible point, Shero didn’t really have a choice.
The Devils are 33% of the way through their season, one which they were expected to at least sniff a wild card spot, and the longest win streak they’ve put together is two games. The only team they’re ahead of is a historically terrible Detroit side.
Perhaps more concerning than the results themselves: the internal development, or lack thereof.
Not many of the younger players are coming along as well as expected, or hoped, and it’s not like you can point to the veteran cast of characters and be like ‘wow, they’re really flourishing’.
Despite playing a low-event brand of hockey, the defense was too prone to big mistakes and the goaltending often wasn’t good enough to cover up for them. We're in this position as a result.
I know it is easy to pile on Hynes for that but let’s not forget this guy annually coached a roster you’d put in the conversation for least talented in the league, and the team was only eight games under NHL .500 during his tenure.
He helped the Devils be competitive and, for the most part, his teams did a better job of limiting shots/chances than you’d expect given the personnel.
I just don’t think this roster was built for his style and his time has come. There’s no shame in that.
Shero moving on from Hynes is the first of many shoes to drop.
If Taylor Hall was having second thoughts about potentially moving on from the Devils, those no doubt left with Hynes. No. 9 might have been Hynes’ biggest supporter. I think he would and, at this point, should have been traded regardless but that’s worth noting.
Hall’s departure will be the biggest, no doubt, but far from the only.
Sami Vatanen is averaging better than 22 minutes a night and producing at a 36 point pace. A 29-year-old Tyler Myers just cashed in on a five-year, $30 million contract after a 31 point campaign so, uh, yeah a 29-year-old Vatanen is going to get paid. The retooling Devils probably shouldn’t be the ones to do it so his days with the team appear to be numbered.
The same can be said of Wayne Simmonds, who will certainly be traded at or near the deadline. It makes sense to listen on 37-year-old Andy Greene as well, although he has a no-trade clause and controls matters.
The Devils clearly aren’t going anywhere this season and they only have one pick (their 1st) in the first three rounds of the 2020 draft. These guys can help replenish that.
As disappointing of a reality as it is to face, there is no present with this team. Every decision should and will be made with both eyes zeroed in on the future.
With Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Jesper Boqvist, Ty Smith and Mackenzie Blackwood already in place, and another elite prospect destined to join the fray in June, it could be a very bright one.
We can only hope.
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The end of an era
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