There will be another Pittsburgh Penguins connection for the United States team staff at the 4 Nations Face-Off next year, as John Hynes on Tuesday was named an assistant coach.
Photo: Jacques Boissinot/CP
Hynes is the first assistant added to the staff headed by Penguins coach Mike Sullivan. Hynes, currently the coach of the Minnesota Wild, began his pro coaching career as an assistant with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, the Penguins’ AHL affiliate. He moved up to WBS head coach for five seasons, leading the team to the playoffs each season and being named AHL Coach of the Year once.
He also has been a head coach in the NHL with New Jersey and Nashville.
U.S. general manager Bill Guerin — the Minnesota Wild GM who won a Stanley Cup as a player with the Penguins and was an assistant GM with the Penguins — said more coaches and support staff will be added before the 4 Nations Face-Off, an event scheduled for next February in Montreal and Boston. In addition to the U.S., Canada, Finland and Sweden will compete.
Mike Sullivan not only has been named head coach of the 4 Nations Face-Off entry, but also the American team at the 2026 Olympics. It seems possible that Hynes could also join the Olympic staff based on what happens at the 4 Nations.
