Count Devils general manager Ray Shero among the believers.
"I said it midway through training camp. I said it after the first few practices," Shero told NJ Advanced Media on Nov. 16. "I told my staff halfway through training camp, 'I can feel that this is turning.' I've been through this before. You see it. You see the young players emerging. You see the culture emerging."
Hynes earned 67 points from the NHL.com panel, nine more than Gerard Gallant (Vegas Golden Knights). Jon Cooper (Tampa Bay Lightning) is third with 52 points. Mike Yeo (St. Louis Blues) received 38.
Voting totals (points awarded on a 5-4-3-2-1- basis):John Hynes, Devils, 67 points (six first-place votes); Gerard Gallant, Golden Knights, 58 (5); Jon Cooper, Lightning, 52 (6); Mike Yeo, Blues, 38 (1); John Stevens, Los Angeles Kings, 30; Paul Maurice, Winnipeg Jets, 10; Travis Green, Vancouver Canucks, 7; Mike Babcock, Toronto Maple Leafs, 4; Guy Boucher, Ottawa Senators, 3; Mike Sullivan, Pittsburgh Penguins, 1