ST. PAUL, Minn. — It was 2011, Bill Guerin’s first year as development coach for the Pittsburgh Penguins and one of his first times traveling to Wilkes-Barre, Penn., to work with the Baby Penguins.
Guerin was living on Long Island, so it was always a special occasion when he showed up.
“He comes in all fresh, brings us Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and comes in full of energy: ‘Hey boys, let’s go on the ice,’” Wilkes-Barre’s coach at the time, John Hynes, recalled. “We go out there skating, and about 20 minutes into practice, we’re doing a battle drill and Billy skates up to me: ‘Hey Hynesy, isn’t this a little aggressive for a morning skate?’
“I go, ‘Billy … the game’s tomorrow.’”
Guerin erupted with laughter last April as Hynes relayed this story on the morning of what was — unbeknownst to either — Hynes’ second-to-last morning skate as coach of the Nashville Predators.
“I was standing there thinking, ‘We’re going long. Now he’s got these guys doing all this physical stuff. I’ve got to say something,’” Guerin said, still laughing.
“Poor guy left his wife and family to come to Wilkes a day too early,” Hynes said, laughing harder.
At the helm of the Hynes 🫡#mnwild pic.twitter.com/VVY9Kp8LZz
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild)
