The New Jersey Devils have rewarded coach John Hynes with a multiyear contract extension, the team announced Thursday.
Terms of the deal have not yet been made public. Hynes' contract had been set to expire after this season.
Hynes, 43, has gone 125-122-38 in his 3 1/2 seasons behind the Devils' bench. Last year, he led them on a surprising playoff run, going 44-29-9 (97 points) before falling to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games in the first round of the postseason. This season, New Jersey is 15-17-7 (37 points), second to last in the Metropolitan Division, although it has won four of its last six.
"John's leadership has been instrumental in building both culture and systems that are focused on the development of our players," general manager Ray Shero said in a news release. "He has cultivated a group of veteran leaders, while helping our young players develop and gain experience. John is to be commended for the progress the team has made under his direction and this commitment shows that we are confident in the role he will play in our future success."
Said Hynes: "We've established a standard in New Jersey of what we expect -- how we act, how we practice and how we play. Throughout my time here, the management, scouts, coaches, players and support staff have worked tirelessly to create this culture. We will continue to instill in our team the tenets of grit, compete and being a self-starter, as we build this brotherhood. I appreciate the confidence (owners) Josh Harris (and) David Blitzer and Ray have shown in me from day one, and know that the entire organization is pulling in the right direction."
Hired in June 2015, Hynes is the longest tenured coach among the pro teams in New York and New Jersey.