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AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Hynes and Nasreddine Signed to Multi-Year Extensions

December 12, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins News Release


WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - The Pittsburgh Penguins announced today that Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Head Coach John Hynes and Assistant Coach Alain Nasreddine have been signed to multi-year extensions.

"John and Alain have done a tremendous job creating a winning environment on and off the ice during their time in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton," said Pittsburgh Penguins Associate General Manager Jason Botterill. "They have been instrumental in the overall success of the Penguins organization by developing and preparing their players to make an immediate impact at both the NHL and AHL levels."

Hynes, 39, recorded his 200th American Hockey League victory on Sunday at Hershey, accomplishing the milestone in just 333 games. He has led Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to an overall record of 200-111-8-14, four Calder Cup playoff berths and the 2011 AHL regular-season championship, while also being named the 2011 AHL coach of the year. During his tenure as head coach of the Penguins, Hynes has totaled the most wins in the AHL; most road wins (104) and three times led the league in defense (2010-11, 2012-13 & 2013-14).

Hynes enjoyed a remarkable record-setting first season as head coach in 2010-11. Despite playing with a depleted lineup due to call-ups to Pittsburgh, which suffered 350 man-games lost, Hynes coached Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to an impressive 58-21-0-1 record, leading the franchise to its first-ever Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy as AHL regular-season champions and also claiming the Frank Mathers Trophy as East Division regular-season champions. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's 58 wins are the second most in AHL history and its 28 victories on the road matched the AHL record. For his efforts, Hynes was named as a co-coach for the Western Conference All-Star Squad at the 2011 AHL All-Star Classic in Hershey, PA and won the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL's Outstanding Coach.

Hynes recorded his 100th win on Apr. 6 versus Hershey, doing so in just 152 games, becoming the fastest in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton history to accomplish this feat and second-fastest ever in the AHL.

Hynes became the Penguins' all-time wins leader, earning his 116th victory on Dec. 22, 2012 versus the Syracuse Crunch, surpassing former record holder Glenn Patrick in only 181 games. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton set several franchise records as part of a 2012-13 campaign during which the Penguins ranked first in the AHL in goals against average and penalty kill. The Penguins' penalty kill success rate was the best in the team history (86.0%) and their 178 goals allowed tied the franchise mark for the fewest in a season (2005-06).

In the postseason, Hynes made history when Wilkes-Barre/Scranton became the first team in the AHL to not only come back from an 0-3 deficit in a best-of-seven series, but also win Games 6 and 7 on the road when they defeated the Providence Bruins in the 2013 Eastern Conference Semifinal. Hynes further etched his name in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's record books, setting the team mark for playoff wins (20) when the Penguins took Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Crunch on May 25, 2013.

The 2013-14 season saw Hynes reach the Calder Cup playoffs for the fourth straight year and the Eastern Conference Final for the second consecutive season. Under Hynes, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has been the only team in the AHL to make it past the first round in each of the last four playoffs.

Hynes served as an assistant coach in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2009-10, his first year within the Penguins organization, working under former Pittsburgh assistant coach Todd Reirden and helping the team to the postseason.

Prior to joining WBS, Hynes spent six seasons as a head coach with USA Hockey's National Development Team Program, posting an overall record of 216-113-19-9. In 2007, he was a finalist for the U.S. Olympic Committee Development Coach of the Year.

Hynes has enjoyed great success on the international stage, leading the U.S. Under-18 National Team to three medals at the IIHF World Under-18 Championships - gold in 2006, silver in 2004 and bronze in 2008. The native of Warwick, RI was head coach of the U.S. National Team at the 2008 World Junior Championships, and was an assistant coach on the 2004 U.S. team that won a gold medal at the World Junior event.

John played four seasons at Boston University, helped the Terriers win the 1995 national championship and earned a Bachelor's degree in Education. John and his wife, Sarah, have three daughters.

Alain Nasreddine is in his fifth season as assistant coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Nasreddine, played 15 years of professional hockey as a defenseman, include five seasons with the Penguins organization and has served as Hynes' assistant for his entire tenure with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He has coached defensive groups that have allowed the fewest goals in the AHL during the 2010-11 (183), 2012-13 (178) and 2013-14 (185) seasons.

The 39-year old played for the Penguins organization from 2003-04 through the 2007-08 season. During that time he suited up in 56 games for Pittsburgh, notching five points (1G-4A). Nasreddine also played in 249 contests for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, totaling 55 points on 13 goals and 42 assists. He added seven points (3G-4A) in 57 postseason games, and helped the team earn two berths in the Calder Cup Final in 2003 and 2008.

Originally drafted by Florida in the sixth round (135th overall) of the 1993 NHL Draft, Nasreddine played for four NHL teams in his career - Chicago, Montreal, NY Islanders and Pittsburgh - and posted five points (1G-4A) and 84 penalty minutes in 74 games.

The Montreal, Quebec native also saw action in 850 combined games with Carolina, Portland, Fredericton, Quebec, Hamilton, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Bridgeport of the AHL and Indianapolis of the International Hockey League. He played his final two seasons with Nuremberg of the German Elite League.

Alain and his wife, Josiane, have three children.

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