Devils fire AHL head coach Kevin Dineen, name Ryan Parent as interim

The New Jersey Devils are making an early-season coaching change in their minor-league ranks.

After a nine-game losing streak to start the year for AHL Utica, the Devils fired Comets head coach Kevin Dineen and named Ryan Parent his interim replacement, the team announced on Wednesday.

Parent, 37, was an assistant under Dineen. The Prince Albert, Sask., native played 106 NHL games on the blue line with the Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks. He was a first-round draft pick by the Predators in 2005.

Dineen, who spent parts of 21 seasons playing in the NHL before retiring in 2002, was in his fourth year behind the Comets’ bench.

He leaves with a 110-84-31 record, including an 0-8-1 mark this season.