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AP Source: Devils to hires John Hynes as head coach

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) New Jersey general manager Ray Shero has reached into his ties with the Pittsburgh Penguins to pick the Devils' next head coach, John Hynes, a person with knowledge of the hiring told The Associated Press on Monday night.

Shero has chosen the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton coach to run the once-proud team that has failed to make the playoffs the past three seasons.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team did not confirm the hiring. The team plans to introduce the new coach at a news conference Tuesday.

The 40-year-old Hynes has coached the Penguins' AHL farm team for the past five seasons, making the playoffs each year. He was the AHL's coach of the year in 2010-11.

New Jersey went 32-36-14 for 78 points this past season, missing the playoffs by 20 points. It was the sixth-worst record in the NHL and the team's worst in a full season since getting 66 points in 1988-89.

Pete DeBoer, who led the Devils to the Stanley Cup Final in 2012, was fired as head coach in December. The Devils finished the season with team president and then-general manager Lou Lamoriello running them with assistant coaches Adam Oates and Scott Stevens.

The 72-year-old Lamoriello stepped aside as general manager early last month and Shero was hired. Lamoriello maintained his role as president.

Prior to joining Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Hynes spent six seasons as a head coach with USA Hockey's National Development Team Program, posting a 216-113-19-9 record. He is a former Boston University player who won a national title in 1995.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has produced several NHL head coaches. Dan Bylsma, who recently was hired to be the Buffalo Sabres coach, is a former Wilkes Barre/Scranton coach who led the Penguins to a Stanley Cup title.

Michel Therrien of the Montreal Canadians, Todd Richards of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Mike Yeo of the Minnesota Wild are former Wilkes-Barre/Scranton coaches.

DeBoer was recently hired to coach the San Jose Sharks.