The New Jersey Devils have relieved John Hynes of his duties as Head Coach. This is a bit of a shocker considering that the Devils looked to be righting the ship just one week ago, when the team found themselves back on a 91-point pace.
In the Devils' last 10 games, they hold a 4-6 record, coming off of two straight losses, which look to be the straw that broke the camel's back for Hynes. Alain Nasreddine will serve as interim Head Coach and Peter Horachek has been elevated to assistant.
"John played an integral role in the development of this team in establishing a foundation for our future and we are grateful for his commitment, passion and unmatched work ethic," said Devils GM Ray Shero. "John is a respected leader, developer of talent and friend which makes this decision difficult. We are a team that values and takes pride in accountability to the results we produce. We are collectively disappointed in our performance on the ice and believe changes were needed, starting with our head coach. I have been consistent in my desire to build something here in New Jersey that earns the respect of teams throughout the league and pride in our fans. That is not where we were heading and for me to tolerate anything less was not acceptable."
Shero believes he has the right man for the interim job in Nasreddine. "Nas has a long history as a respected leader both as a player and a coach in the respective roles he has served for his teams," Shero continued. "His experience as a captain and alternate captain on the ice, in addition to his responsibilities behind the bench, will serve him well as he leads this team through necessary changes to alter our current trajectory."
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