The Minnesota Wild announced on Friday that they have parted ways with longtime assistant coach Darby Hendrickson, ending his 14-year tenure with the team ¹ ² ³ ⁴ ⁵. Hendrickson, 51, served as an assistant coach since the 2010-11 season and played for the Wild during their inaugural four seasons from 2000-2004. He has been an assistant coach for every head coach in Wild history except for Jacques Lemaire, whom he played for as a forward.
General Manager Bill Guerin announced the move, stating that Hendrickson has done tremendous good things for the team and the State of Hockey as a player and a coach. Guerin expressed his gratitude for Hendrickson’s hard work and commitment and wished him and his family all the best in the future ¹ ² ³ ⁴ ⁵.
Hendrickson’s departure comes as head coach John Hynes looks to reshape his staff ahead of his first full season with the club. Guerin also felt it was time for Hendrickson to move on. Hendrickson has no other coaching experience outside of his run with the Wild and will now be considered for the numerous assistant vacancies remaining around the league ¹ ³.
The vacancy created by Hendrickson’s firing may be filled via an internal promotion, with long-time Rangers pivot Derek Stepan being considered for the role. Stepan spent the season shadowing coaching and hockey operations staff and has a 13-year, 890-game career with the Coyotes, Hurricanes, Rangers, and Senators ¹ ³.
Hendrickson’s contributions to the Wild organization have been significant, both as a player and a coach. He was an original member of the Wild franchise and scored the team’s first goal at Xcel Energy Center on October 11, 2000, against the Philadelphia Flyers. He played for five NHL franchises, registering 129 points in 518 games, and had 60 points in 182 games with Minnesota ⁴ ⁵.
The move marks a significant change for the Wild, who missed the playoffs in the 2023-24 season. As the team looks to shake things up and improve their performance, Hendrickson’s departure may be the first of several changes to come ².
