Wild coach John Hynes, who has coached several USA Hockey national teams since the late 90s, was named head coach of the 2024 U.S. men’s national team that will compete in the World Championship May 10 to 26 in Czechia.
Hynes is serving as head coach of the U.S. men’s national team for the third time after stints behind the bench in 2016 and 2019.
He was head coach for three medal-winning U.S. Under-18 men’s national teams, as well, winning gold in 2006, silver in 2004 and bronze in 2008. He also served as an assistant coach for the U.S. team that earned gold in the 2004 world juniors, among several other appearances as a U.S. assistant.
It’s unclear yet who will be on Hynes’ staff. Some candidates include Detroit’s Derek Lalonde, San Jose’s David Quinn and recently fired Buffalo coach Don Granato. NHL assistants could also be picked, depending on availability.
Hynes should have a stacked roster, potentially including Brady Tkachuk, Trevor Zegras, Dylan Larkin, Johnny Gaudreau, Luke Hughes, Matt Boldy and Brock Faber.
Any player aspiring to play for the U.S. in the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off or 2026 Olympics has reason to go to worlds. In March, Bill Guerin, who will manage both of those teams, made it clear it would behoove players who aren’t locks for those rosters to play in the worlds.
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Before becoming a professional coach in 2009, Hynes, 49, spent six seasons (2003 to ’09) as a head coach for the U.S. National Team Development Program, going 216-113-19-9. He also served as an assistant coach at the U.S. NTDP for the 2001-02 season.
“We’re fortunate to have John leading our team,” said Florida Panthers assistant general manager Brett Peterson, GM of the 2024 U.S. men’s national team. “His passion and energy, coupled with his vast experience, including on the world stage, will certainly serve us well in our efforts to bring back gold to the United States.”
Hynes, the 2011 AHL coach of the year, led Wilkes-Barre to five straight 40-plus-win seasons and five consecutive playoff berths, including back-to-back appearances in the conference finals. He became the second-fastest coach in AHL history to reach 100 career wins, doing so in just 152 games.
He has coached the New Jersey Devils, Nashville Predators and on Thursday completed his first season with the Wild.
(Photo: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
