The Colorado Avalanche and Colorado Eagles have named their new Associate Head Coach. Former Avalanche forward Dan Hinote will return to the organization under the watchful eye of head coach Aaron Schneekloth. Hinote spent the last four years as the assistant coach for the Nashville Predators. Hinote will take the place of another fan favorite, Steve Konowalchuk, who left for a head coaching position with the Springfield Thunderbirds (STL).
Stanley Cup Champion Dan Hinote has been named associate head coach of the Colorado Eagles.
Happy to have you back in the organization, Dan!#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/b3DXpGwc9Z
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) July 17, 2024
Hinote’s playing days
Hinote has a strong background in hockey. The Avalanche originally drafted him in 1996 (167th overall). After playing for West Point and then the Oshawa Generals, Hinote joined the Hershey (Colorado’s AHL affiliate at the time) in 1998. It was not until October 5, 1998 when Hinote made his NHL debut against the Predators. Hinote would help win a Stanley Cup in 2001 and leave the team for MODO during the 2004 lockout. Hinote would return to the Avalanche for one season and play his final three seasons in the NHL with the St. Louis Blues.
Dan Hinote 🆚 Sean Avery • Mar 20, 2006https://t.co/OjW2urZakt pic.twitter.com/MWhwbvVHTw
— hockeyfights (@hockeyfights) September 28, 2022
Since Hinote stopped playing
Since Hinote has retired from playing the game of hockey, he has spent time as an assistant coach with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Predators. Hinote would spend time as a pro scout and associate coach, developing players in the U.S. National Development Program.
“Dan has a diverse background in professional hockey, including a decade as a player in the NHL and nearly a decade as a coach in the NHL,” said Avalanche Assistant General Manager Kevin McDonald. “He is a strong teacher of the game and relates well to younger players with his experience playing in college hockey, at the major junior level as well as his time as a coach with Team USA’s Under 17 and 18 teams. We are excited to have Dan back with the Avalanche organization and look forward to having him behind the Eagles bench this season.”
Conclusion
Dan Hinote will bring all kinds of experience with him to the bench. While in Nashville, he helped build the penalty kill and will help make that even better in Loveland. With his scouting and development experience, he will help to guide the team in Northern Colorado. They will need calm and collected voices from both Hinote and Schneekloth to start strongly this year.