Kevin Allen

USA TODAY Sports

New Jersey Devils coach John Hynes has been named head coach of the U.S. national team that will compete at the world championships in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia, next month.

Hynes is known to USA Hockey because he had been the coach the U.S. National Team Development program from 2003-09. This season, Hynes forced his way into the conversation for NHL coach of the year after keeping the offensively-challenged Devils (30th in scoring) in playoff contention for much of the season. They are 37-36-8.

The Americans already have announced that Auston Matthews, the projected No. 1 pick in the June NHL draft, will play for USA.

USA’s first game of the tournament will be against Canada on May 6 in St. Petersburg. Carolina Hurricanes coach Bill Peters will coach Canada.