Columbus Blue Jackets President and General Manager Don Waddell announced Monday that Dean Evason has agreed to a multi-year contract to serve as head coach of the team.  

 

Evason, 59, amassed a 147-77-27 record in 251 games over parts of five seasons as head coach of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild. He was named the club’s interim head coach in February 2020, then elevated to head coach in the offseason that year. He  held the position this past season through November.

 

Evason’s .639 points percentage ranks fifth among active NHL coaches with 250 or more contests. He was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, given annually to the NHL’s Coach of the Year, in 2020-21 and finished fourth in voting for the award in 2021-22. He led the Wild to appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of his first four seasons behind the bench.

 

“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,” said Waddell. “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.”

 

Evason originally joined the Wild as an assistant coach in 2018. He spent the previous six seasons as the head coach of the American Hockey League’s Milwaukee Admirals. During his tenure, the Admirals made four appearances in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

 

“I am incredibly proud and honored to be named the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets and appreciate very much the opportunity that Don, the McConnell family and Mike Priest have extended to me,” said Evason. “There is a great core and a lot of young talent on this team. 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.” 

 

Evason began his coaching career in the Western Hockey League (WHL) as an assistant coach with the Calgary Hitmen (1998-99). He then served as a head coach of the Kamloops Blazers for three seasons (1999-2002), the Vancouver Giants for two campaigns (2002-04) and co-coach of the Hitmen in 2004-05.

 

Internationally, Evason has represented Canada at numerous tournaments, both as a player and coach.  He most recently served as an assistant coach for Team Canada at the 2024 IIHF World Championships.

 

A center, Evason was selected in the fifth round by the Capitals in the 1982 NHL Draft. He finished a 13-year NHL career with 139 goals and 233 assists in 803 games with the Capitals, Hartford Whalers, San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars, and Calgary Flames. He played the final three seasons of his professional career in Europe.

 

Evason was born on Aug. 22, 1964, in Flin Flon, Manitoba. He is married to Genevieve and has three children, Bryce, Brianne and Brooke, as well as two grandsons, Connor and Hudson.