The Columbus Blue Jackets have appointed Dean Evason as their new head coach, the team announced on Monday.
Evason, 59, previously served as the head coach of the Minnesota Wild for parts of five seasons, achieving a 147-77-27 record. He was dismissed from the role on November 28 and succeeded by John Hynes.
“Dean Evason brings to coaching what he brought as a player – passion, hard work, and tenacity – and I couldn’t be happier that he will serve as the next head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets,” stated Don Waddell, president and general manager.
Waddell added, “He has spent well over two decades in this league as a player, assistant coach, and head coach, and I believe that experience, combined with the outstanding person he is, will allow Dean to get the best out of our players and put us in a position to succeed as a team.”
The Blue Jackets terminated head coach Pascal Vincent on June 18 after just one season. Vincent had been promoted following the resignation of Mike Babcock before the season started.
Evason was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award in 2021 and finished fourth in the voting the following year. Under his leadership, the Wild reached the playoffs in each full season.
“There is a great core and a lot of young talent on this team,” Evason said in a statement. “I am really looking forward to working with this group and helping us become a team that plays extremely hard and competes at the highest level.”
Former Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft was reportedly also a finalist for the position.
The Blue Jackets concluded the last season at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division with a 27-43-12 record and have not made the playoffs since 2020.
