Is John Hynes the long-term solution for the Minnesota Wild?

Dean Evason is out as the head coach of the Minnesota Wild after a seven-game losing streak has them down in 30th place in the league. In is John Hynes to replace him, as general manager Bill Guerin still looks to keep this season alive for the Wild.

But is this hire a long-term solution for the Wild? Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk talk about the Hynes hiring on Daily Faceoff Live.

Frank Seravalli: I think without a shadow of a doubt the Wild can make up seven to nine points on that St. Louis Blues team over the course of the three quarters left in the season. I think the real interesting thing is, is Hynes the guy to do it? Clearly some trust there with Guerin and Hynes going way back to when Guerin was the assistant general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins and also then-GM of their AHL team in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Head coach there was John Hynes.

So these two know each other pretty well, a logical fit, but he’s a guy that the NHL level has a points percentage 100 points less than Dean Evason, who leaves Minnesota with a .639 points%. Jay Woodcroft, fired in Edmonton, had a .643%, so if not for the seven-game losing streak to end his tenure in Minnesota, Evason leaves Minny with a higher points% than Woodcroft had in Edmonton, so tough spot to be in.

Tyler Yaremchuk: When you look at the fact that it’s Hynes coming in, it’s a bit of a retread hire, he’s had a couple stops now around the NHL. This really does feel like a “we’re shaking up the room with this firing”, not a “we’re moving on from Evason and there’s a guy we like long-term”. I just don’t get that vibe with this.

Frank Seravalli: Yeah, and I think the other part of it is when I look at Evason and the way that he approaches things, and then Hynes, they also feel kind of similar. Both are very intense guys. I think the one thing that’s been lacking from Hynes and his teams has been attention to detail. I think the Wild need more of that, not less, but Guerin says a blank slate, and they’re not giving up on this year.

You can watch the full episode here…