Guys we have to give Hynes some credit... Really. No one has mentioned it yet. He HAS to be a major part of this
I’m giving props to Hynes.
His lineup usage has been excellent from training camp.
Started Hischier on 3rd line and bumped him up to top line when the performances warranted it. Ditto Jesper Bratt. I like how he has no problems giving youth a go. The decisions to keep Gibbons and Coleman ahead of Blandisi and Quenneville after camp has been a master stroke. Yes Blandisi and Quenneville were better scorers in camp but Hynes wanted Gibbons and Coleman on the team for PK ability and it has been paid off in spades.
He is very smart with how he has used Butcher. Shelter him on even strength and ramp him up on power play.
He has recognized that Lovejoy isn’t the player he once was and scratched him for most of the season. I’m sure there is a temptation is to continue to play him as he is a Stanley cup veteran over the likes of Severson, Santini, Mueller and Butcher. But Hynes has recognized quickly that The above 4 dman are the future of this team. Even when Lovejoy does play, he gives him minimal minutes and he has been every effective as a no. 7 dman this year.
Scratching of Santini and Severson has been good coaching. Severson wasn’t performing and got a deserved benching. But credit to Hynes, didn’t let him sit long and has been damn good since his scratching. Santini also has been good as well from his spell on the sidelines as Hynes has learned that Santini got overwhelmed playing top pairing minutes, so it best to give him a rest and then cut his minutes back on return. The acquisition of Vatanen has helped with this and I think Vatanen has also helped lessen the load of Andy Greene’s minutes which is a good thing.
Zajac completely sucked in his first 10 games back from injury but you just had to persist and the benefits are now showing. He looks great with Coleman and Gibbons. You could say the same with Brian Boyle after missing all of training camp. We now seeing the value what he brings, with his faceoff prowess and veteran leadership. The fact he is chipping in some goals now is a huge bonus.
And finally, as much as everyone hates how Zacha is being treated, Hynes is doing the right thing. Scratching him for multiple games is the only way he can learn that his compete level was holding him back. If he doesn’t bring it each game he is going to get scratched. Jimmy Hayes has outworked Zacha for the season to date but hopefully after the last 3 games, Zacha now realizes what he needs to go to stay in the lineup. So when the likes of MoJo and Palms returns from injury, it is Hayes and Stafford that go out, and Zacha stays in.
John Hynes is a top 3 Jack Adams candidate to date this season.