Blue Jackets hire Dean Evason as coach

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- General manager Don Waddell and the Blue Jackets have found their next coach to replace Pascal Vincent.

The Jackets announced the hiring of Dean Evason on Monday, ending a search that began when Vincent was let go on June 17.

“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.”

Evason has been coaching since 1999, starting in the Western Hockey League as an assistant with the Calgary Hitmen. He most recently served as coach of the Minnesota Wild, spending five seasons at the helm until last November, when he was fired after a 5-10-4 start.

“There is a great core and a lot of young talent on this team," Evason said of the Jackets. "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.”

A native of Manitoba, Evason's playing career dates to the 1980s, when he was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the fifth round of the 1982 draft. He went on to play for the Hartford Whalers, San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars and Calgary Flames. The center forward also played for the Canadian national team, winning gold at the 1997 world championships in Finland.

Evason becomes the 12th coach for the Blue Jackets, who look to return to winning ways after they went 27-43-12 in Vincent's lone season. They have missed the playoffs for four seasons.

The Jackets just wrapped up its player development camp earlier this month, which featured their top draft pick, Cayden Lindstrom. They're set to open the 2024-25 season on Oct. 10 against the Minnesota Wild.