New Jersey Devils Need To Seriously Consider What To Do At Head Coach
John Hynes’ tenure with the New Jersey Devils is not very good at all. Witnessing an embarrassing break down on national television is very, very bad for John Hynes and his staff (excluding Rick Kowalsky) has a team with so much potential that is untapped. The season is very young, but it is time to dive in why it’s important to clean the bench.
John Hynes is a 9/1 odds of being fired or resigning. Hynes’ style of Devils hockey doesn’t seem to suit this team whatsoever. Changing line combos, not adjusting the defensive positioning, and the lack of guidance for this team is not going well right now. Players like John Hayden and Kevin Rooney playing over guys like Jesper Boqvist is absolutely mind numbing. Not having Mikhail Maltsev on the roster who would add size, physicality, scoring, and really good chemistry, but he didn’t make it past second cuts in camp.
Ever since Geoff Ward left for Calgary two season ago, Mike Grier has nothing to show for the last two seasons with the team. The power play hasn’t been able to cash in so far in the first few games. Roland Melanson can stay because he has done a good job with the goalies, but if the Devils need to bring a spark to a team that’s floundering, they might have to considering making a change on the bench.
Having a coach that has a plethora of high-end talent in his tool box is what Hynes needs to use. Ray Shero went out shopping this past summer to provide Hynes the pieces to build a playoff team. However, it seems Hynes isn’t going to use guys like Hughes as much for top-six minutes. Taylor Hall wants to stay here, but if Hynes keeps making the structure so bland, this could be the time Hall thinks “oh no why now.”
If there were an ideal staff, it would be Dan Bylsma as head coach, Patrik Elias assistant coach, Rick Kowalsky (power play/special teams), and Scott Stevens (Defensive coach) alongside Roland Melanson the goalie coach. Ray Shero and Bylsma had great success together in Pittsburgh. Patrik Elias provides a very passionate former NHL player mind set that can be used to help add leadership. Having a legend like Scott Stevens back coaching the defense would work wonders and make this team a hard team to play against. Roland Melanson so far had success in helping Mackenzie Blackwood last season, and helping Cory change his mechanics.
It’s not the fault of the goaltending, it’s the lack of help from John Hynes and his mistakes with the lineup. This team has a lot of offensive firepower, but mismanagement with the defense needs a lot of change. Now the team is 0-2-1 with this bad coaching and play.
There is no reason for Hynes to be sticking around. There is a great blend of youth and veterans on this team that needs a fresh mindset from a new head coach. St. Louis fired Mike Yeo in the middle of the season and eventually worked wonders building a positive energy on and off the ice. Here in New Jersey,winning starts now and the waiting like this can’t occur, no one deserves shenanigans and let downs anymore.