Blue Jackets hire Dean Evason to finally fill HC role

Dean Evason was named head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets, ending a methodical search for Pascal Vincent's replacement.

Evason, 59, was 147-77-27 in parts of five seasons as Minnesota Wild head coach with an 8-15 record in the Stanley Cup Playoffs qualifying each of his four previous seasons before being fired early in the 2023-24 campaign.

"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 (Waddell, general manager), the McConnell family and (president) Mike Priest have extended to me," Evason said. "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."

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

Vincent was fired at the end of the regular season, his first as Columbus head coach. The Blue Jackets' last-place finish in the Metropolitan Division was also the franchise's second in a row finishing last in the Eastern Conference.

The Blue Jackets hired Don Waddell as president of hockey operations following his resignation from the same post with the Carolina Hurricanes in May. Waddell said in late June that he was beginning the search for a new coach but prioritized free agency and draft decisions entering July.

"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," Waddell said. "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."

--Field Level Media