The Minnesota Wild may not have officially clinched a playoff spot just yet, but it's essentially been a foregone conclusion that they would be locks. After all, they are part of the top-heavy Central Division alongside the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars, and all three are feasible favorites to win the Stanley Cup. On the season, the Wild are 40-20-12 with 92 points through 72 games.
General manager Bill Guerin is being lauded for the team he has built this season. But credit can also be given to head coach John Hynes, who put together the line combinations and defensive pairings. It sounds like Hynes will be rewarded soon.
The Athletic and TSN insider Pierre LeBrun ran through all of the coaches who are due new contracts in the next couple of years. LeBrun said that while Hynes is in the second season of his three year contract with the Wild, he says he feels he's in good shape to get a contract extension.
Pierre LeBrun says he can 'pretty much guarantee' John Hynes will get contract extension with Wild
"Hynes is in Year 2 of a three-year contract. He’s in pretty darn good shape to get an extension at some point. I can pretty much guarantee that," writes LeBrun. "The Wild under him have ascended as Cup contenders, aided by his GM’s additions. There’s a very tough first-round playoff matchup that awaits, likely with Dallas, but unless it’s a sweep, I would find it hard to pin a loss on the coach. And of course, the Wild may win."
Hynes has been a head coach in the NHL since 2015, and he is in the midst of potentially his best season behind the bench. With 92 points thus far, he is just five points away from tying his best in a single campain. Hynes recorded logged 97 points in the 2017-18, 2021-22, and 2024-25 seasons. With 10 games left on the season, Hynes can certainly surpass it.
This season under Hynes, the Wild are one of the top defensive teams in hockey, as they've allowed an average of 2.82 goals per game, which ranks as the fifth-lowest in the NHL. Credit can also be given to their goaltending duo of Filip Gustavsson and Jesper Wallstedt. The Wild are also one of the top powerplay units in hockey, as their 25.0 power play percentage is tied with the Montreal Canadiens for the fourth-best in the league. Those are good numbers to have, especially when entering the playoffs.
Once the Wild secure a playoff spot, they will be the third place team in the Central Division, meaning they would have to face the second place team in the first round. Barring a collapse from the Colorado Avalanche, the Wild will be facing the Dallas Stars in the opening round. If the Wild advance, they will face either the Avalanche or the second Wild Card team in the second round. It's far from an easy path to the Western Conference Finals. It will be up to Hynes to game plan and put together the quality lineups that can help the team make it to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in franchise history.
As LeBrun mentions, barring a first-round sweep, Hynes could cash in on a new contract with the Wild.