He discussed all this and more on
the latest episode of the Predators Official Podcast
, but here are some highlights to help you get to know the man behind the bench.
1.He was teammates, classmates - and roommates - with Predators Assistant General Manager and Director of Scouting Jeff Kealty while the two played hockey at Boston University.
Hynes spent time with the Terriers from 1993-97, and he helped his team to an NCAA Championship in 1995. The forward became close with Kealty, a defenseman, and the two have been reunited at the NHL level.
Was there anything Hynes did back then that gave Kealty reason to put in a good word for him in Nashville?
"I always had to pick up after him," Hynes joked. "Maybe that was what did it."
2. Hynes says he wouldn't call himself an "in-depth country [music] guy" yet, but he's off to a good start with an industry superstar and Preds fan.
"I like Luke Bryan's music, and my daughters like it too," Hynes said. "A lot of times, we'll have it on in the car or at home or if we're cooking out, things like that. Our family does like it, and I'm certainly looking forward to seeing him maybe in the offseason, and then just being able to explore a little bit more some of the country music [spots] and the sights and scenes around here. It'd be great to experience that with my family."
3. Hockey is No. 1 when it comes to athletic endeavors, but Hynes can also find his way around a golf course.
"I like to exercise, and I don't play as many sports anymore, but I played a lot of a lot of sports growing up. Soccer, lacrosse, football, hockey, a little bit of basketball, but that had to stop," Hynes quipped. "I do a lot with my girls. But in the offseason, I like to get out and enjoy some fresh air, and golf is kind of the primary one now."
4. With three daughters, Hynes is a family man - and he uses those experiences to help him deal with his teams too.
"The job is so demanding, and sometimes you can get caught up in it - the emotions, sometimes you can overwork," Hynes said. "It's really important to work hard and have time management… Your family gives you energy, and they also give you perspective. Whether that's spending time with your family, making time for them to get away from the game, exercising, playing golf in the offseason; I think it's important that when you work as hard as you do [in this job], and the job is as demanding as it is, there are also other things going on in life. And I think when you have that, as a coach, you also understand that with your players and with your staff.
"The most important thing is you are not your job. It's what you do, it's not who you are. And I think that's important to recommend. I think it also gives you a good perspective to deal with your team."
5. Even before he was hired to coach the Preds, Hynes had been to Bridgestone Arena many times before as a visitor. He knows there can be a distinct home-ice advantage here, and he intends on getting it back.
"When you're at home and you have the type of fans that we have here, it's about the energy and intensity level that you want to play with," Hynes said. "That's something that we've talked with our team about. We certainly feel like we've got to play better and harder, and you'll get more results at home to get the fans [to the level] they want to get to. It's about how we play the game that's going to determine whether we're going to win or lose. But fans also recognize when a team works, when they're doing the right things, when they're playing the right way; we've got to make sure we're more consistent in here."
