After firing Dan Bylsma, new Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford has made it clear that he won’t start interviewing head coaching candidates until next week.
But there already may be a favorite for the job.
Rutherford identified current Wilkes-Barre/Scranton head coach John Hynes as a candidate and did confirm that Hynes will interview for the job next week.
The 39-year old Hynes is one of the first candidates identified by Rutherford after posting a 186-102-20 record in four seasons with the Baby Penguins. The AHL Penguins reached the Calder Cup semifinal round each of the past two postseasons.
The Penguins have turned to WBS before when looking for a head coach and it only makes sense that they do so again as Wilkes-Barre has turned into a nice pipeline of NHL head coaches.
Bylsma was promoted from WBS to replace Michel Therrien (also a WBS head coach). Other current NHL head coaches that manned the bench for the Baby Penguins include Columbus head coach Todd Richards and Minnesota head coach Mike Yeo.
The one interesting thing about Hynes as a candidate is that Wilkes-Barre played the same system that you saw with the Penguins under Bylsma as the system was implemented throughout the organization. Hynes wouldn’t have a problem adjusting though as his reputation is one of a defensive-minded coach. He also has a good reputation for being able to make in-game adjustments, which is something that will likely land him an NHL job soon, if not with the Penguins then with someone else.
Hynes also could have a leg up on the competition as he worked closely with Jason Botterill, Tom Fitzgerald and Bill Guerin during his time with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Botterill, Fitzgerald and Guerin were all promoted last Friday when the Rutherford announcement became official.
For what it’s worth, Hynes is listed as the favorite in Vegas to land the job as well as Bovada listed him as a 2-1 favorite.
The other coaches behind him on that list include:
Mike Keenan 5/2
Willie Desjardins 4/1
John Stevens 4/1
Jeff Daniels 6/1
Todd Nelson 6/1
Ron Wilson 9/1
Many Penguins fans may frown at the idea of looking inside the organization for its next head coach, but it isn’t the Penguins style as the last time they hired a coach outside of the organization, it was Ivan Hlinka in 2000.
Pens fans also may frown on the idea that they aren’t searching for a big name or more accomplished coach, as Mike Babcock’s name is the popular one being floated around the most. That being said it is very interesting that most of the early presumed candidates- Desjardins, Daniels and Nelson- are also current AHL coaches.
At the end of the day Rutherford will do his due diligence on every potential candidate, but it is quite possible the Penguins could already have their guy in mind.
Photo Credit: CBS Sports
