Predators hire Hynes to replace Laviolette

John Hynes wasn't unemployed for long.

The Nashville Predators named the former New Jersey Devils bench boss their new head coach Tuesday.

Hynes succeeds Peter Laviolette, whom the Predators fired Monday night.

The Devils dismissed Hynes on Dec. 3, following a 9-13-4 start to the season. He spent four-plus campaigns with New Jersey and went 150-159-45 while guiding the team to a single playoff appearance, a five-game loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2018.

Hynes is the third head coach in Predators history. Barry Trotz guided the team for 15 campaigns beginning with the franchise's inaugural season in 1998-99, and the club hired Laviolette to replace him in 2014-15.

Nashville general manager David Poile is familiar with Hynes due to their USA Hockey ties. Hynes spent nine years on the U.S. National Team Development Program coaching staff. Poile, who's long been associated with the governing body of American hockey, was an original member of the U.S. men's national team advisory group formed in 2007.