The Columbus Blue Jackets have named Dean Evason as their new head coach. Evason will be introduced at a press conference tomorrow morning.
Head Coach Hunt Ends
GOT OUR GUY 🤩
We've named Dean Evason as our new head coach!
We’re thrilled to welcome Dean and his wife Genevieve to the #CBJ family!
📝 https://t.co/BMpvXKi4yc pic.twitter.com/Fu7N16zAN5
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) July 22, 2024
The hunt for a head coach has not been easy for the Blue Jackets. At one point, it seemed Todd McClellan was the top candidate. However, a deal could not be reached.
Evason has won 147 games as a head coach, all with the Minnesota Wild. He was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award 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. A rough start to the 2023-24 season for the Wild resulted in Evason being fired. However, his resume brings hope to the Blue Jackets organization.
“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 General Manager Don 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 Will Look to Turn Things Around in Columbus
The Blue Jackets had 66 points last season, placing them in last place in the Eastern Conference. Furthermore, it was the fourth-worst point total in the league. The team took the first steps in righting the ship at the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. With the fourth overall pick, the Blue Jackets picked centre Cayden Lindstrom. They also brought back veteran defenceman Jack Johnson via a free agent signing. While there is still work to do, there is a foundation in place for Evason to gets thing going in the right direction.
Question Marks Still Remain
Evason’s hiring is not the last big hurtle the Blue Jackets have to figure out this offseason. The team is still awaiting an update on forward Patrik Laine, who been in the player assistance program since January. The Blue Jackets are interested in trading Laine, as he requested. However, interested teams want to speak to Laine before agreeing to a trade. Under the rules of the player assistance program, no team can talk to Laine while he is in the program. Despite the Laine situation still lingering, the Blue Jackets are pleased to have a head coach as August approaches.
Main photo: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
