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Dean Evason
Dean Evason
Dean Evason
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Dean Clement Evason (born August 22, 1964) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. He previously served as head coach of the Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). Evason was selected by the Washington Capitals in the fifth round (89th overall) of the 1982 NHL entry draft. Evason was born in Flin Flon, Manitoba, but grew up in Brandon, Manitoba.

Key Information

Playing career

[edit]

Selected by the Capitals in the 1982 NHL entry draft, Evason played in the NHL from 1983 to 1996 for the Capitals, Hartford Whalers, San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars, and Calgary Flames. He was most successful as a member of the Hartford Whalers, where he compiled career highs with the team with 87 goals and 165 assists for 261 points. Evason was a 20-goal scorer twice with Hartford and was well known for his ability to get the puck to other players for goals during difficult situations on the ice.

Evason also played in Switzerland, for the Canadian National Team, and in the German Hockey League before retiring as an active player. In 803 NHL games, playing primarily as a defensive-minded forward, he had 139 goals and 233 assists.

International play

[edit]
Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing  Canada
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1997 Finland

Evason first played for Canada junior team at the 1984 World Junior Championships, while during a terrific campaign for the Kamloops Junior Oilers. His selection to the squad was somewhat of a surprise,[1] but he proved to be a productive player, recording six goals and three assists for nine points in seven games for the fourth-placed Canadian squad.[2] The Canadians narrowly missed out on a medal to the third-placed Czechoslovakia junior team, losing 6–4 in their match against them that decided the medals. It would be 13 additional years before Evason was again selected to represent his country.

His final opportunity occurred in 1997 when Canada senior team's coach Andy Murray offered him a spot on the roster and the captaincy in exchange for playing a full season for the national team, which was then together for 10 months per year.[1] Evason was the only non-NHL player on the Canadian roster during the 1997 World Championships that won their first World Championships in three years, beating Sweden in the final, scoring two goals and adding three assists during the tournament.[3]

Coaching career

[edit]

Before joining the Capitals as an assistant coach, Evason spent many years in the Western Hockey League in various coaching capacities, starting in 1999 as an assistant with the Calgary Hitmen. He then became the head coach of the Kamloops Blazers from 1999 to 2002 and the Vancouver Giants from 2002 to 2004. He returned to the Hitmen for the 2004–05 season as a co-coach.

In 2005, he was hired by the Washington Capitals as an assistant coach. In 2012, he was hired by the Milwaukee Admirals as head coach, where he served for six seasons to become the team's second-winningest coach in their history. In 2018, he was hired by the Minnesota Wild as an assistant coach.[4] On February 14, 2020, Evason was named interim head coach of the Wild.[5]

On July 13, 2020, the Wild dropped the "interim" tag from Evason's title and named him the fifth full-time head coach in franchise history.[6] After parts of five seasons with the team, the Wild fired Evason on November 27, 2023, after a 5–10–4 start capped by a seven-game losing streak.[7][8]

On July 22, 2024, Evason was hired as head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets, succeeding Pascal Vincent.[9] On January 12, 2026, Evason and assistant coach Steve McCarthy were fired by the Blue Jackets, with Evason replaced by Rick Bowness.[10][11]

Career statistics

[edit]

Regular season and playoffs

[edit]
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1980–81 Cowichan Valley Capitals BCJHL 50 20 51 71 39 — — — — —
1980–81 Spokane Flyers WHL 3 1 1 2 0 — — — — —
1981–82 Spokane Flyers WHL 26 8 14 22 65 — — — — —
1981–82 Kamloops Junior Oilers WHL 44 21 55 76 47 4 2 1 3 0
1982–83 Kamloops Junior Oilers WHL 70 71 93 164 102 7 5 7 12 18
1983–84 Kamloops Junior Oilers WHL 57 49 88 137 89 17 21 20 41 33
1983–84 Washington Capitals NHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
1984–85 Washington Capitals NHL 15 3 4 7 2 — — — — —
1984–85 Hartford Whalers NHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
1984–85 Binghamton Whalers AHL 65 27 49 76 38 8 3 5 8 9
1985–86 Hartford Whalers NHL 55 20 28 48 65 10 1 4 5 10
1985–86 Binghamton Whalers AHL 26 9 17 26 29 — — — — —
1986–87 Hartford Whalers NHL 80 22 37 59 67 5 3 2 5 35
1987–88 Hartford Whalers NHL 77 10 18 28 115 6 1 1 2 2
1988–89 Hartford Whalers NHL 67 11 17 28 60 4 1 2 3 10
1989–90 Hartford Whalers NHL 78 18 25 43 138 7 2 2 4 22
1990–91 Hartford Whalers NHL 75 6 23 29 170 6 0 4 4 29
1991–92 San Jose Sharks NHL 74 11 15 26 99 — — — — —
1992–93 San Jose Sharks NHL 84 12 19 31 132 — — — — —
1993–94 Dallas Stars NHL 80 11 33 44 66 9 0 2 2 12
1994–95 Dallas Stars NHL 47 8 7 15 48 5 1 2 3 12
1995–96 Calgary Flames NHL 67 7 7 14 38 3 0 1 1 0
1996–97 EV Zug NLA 3 0 1 1 2 4 0 2 2 4
1997–98 EV Landshut DEL 42 8 22 30 38 6 0 3 3 18
1998–99 EV Landshut DEL 45 13 25 38 76 3 0 1 1 2
NHL totals 803 139 233 372 1,000 55 9 20 29 132

Head coaching record

[edit]

WHL

[edit]
Team Year Regular season Postseason
G W L OTL SOL Pts Finish W L Win% Result
KAM 1999–00 72 36 30 5 1 78 4th in West 0 4 .000 Lost in first round (SEA)
KAM 2000–01 72 35 28 7 2 79 3rd in West 0 4 .000 Lost in first round (SPK)
KAM 2001–02 72 38 25 5 4 85 1st in B.C. 0 4 .000 Lost in first round (KEL)
VAN 2002–03 72 39 27 5 1 84 2nd in B.C. 2 4 .333 Lost in first round (KOO)
VAN 2003–04 72 34 28 8 2 78 3rd in B.C. 1 4 .200 Lost in first round (VAN)
CGY 2004–05 72 34 23 9 6 83 3rd in Central 7 4 .636 Lost in second round (BDN)
Total 432 216 161 39 16 487   10 24 .294 6 playoff appearances

AHL

[edit]
Team Year Regular season Postseason
G W L OTL SOL Pts Finish W L Win% Result
MIL 2012–13 76 41 28 4 3 89 2nd in Midwest 1 3 .250 Lost in first round (TEX)
MIL 2013–14 76 39 24 6 7 91 3rd in Midwest 0 3 .000 Lost in first round (TOR)
MIL 2014–15 76 33 28 8 7 81 5th in Midwest - - - Did not qualify
MIL 2015–16 76 48 23 3 2 101 1st in Central 0 3 .000 Lost in first round (GR)
MIL 2016–17 76 43 26 4 3 95 3rd in Central 0 3 .000 Lost in first round (GR)
MIL 2017–18 76 38 32 4 2 82 6th in Central - - - Did not qualify
Total 456 242 161 29 24 539   1 12 .077 4 playoff appearances

NHL

[edit]
Team Year Regular season Postseason
G W L OTL Pts Finish W L Win% Result
MIN 2019–20 12* 8 4 0 (16) 6th in Central 1 3 .250 Lost in qualifying round (VAN)
MIN 2020–21 56 35 16 5 75 3rd in West 3 4 .429 Lost in first round (VGK)
MIN 2021–22 82 53 22 7 113 2nd in Central 2 4 .333 Lost in first round (STL)
MIN 2022–23 82 46 25 11 103 3rd in Central 2 4 .333 Lost in first round (DAL)
MIN 2023–24 19 5 10 4 (14) (fired) — — — —
MIN total 251 147 77 27     8 15 .348 4 playoff appearances
CBJ 2024–25 82 40 33 9 89 4th in Metropolitan — — — Missed playoffs
CBJ 2025–26 45 19 19 7 (45) (fired) — — — —
CBJ total 127 59 52 16     — — —  
Total 378 206 129 43     8 15 .348 4 playoff appearances
  • Season shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic during the 2019–20 season. Playoffs were played in August 2020 with a different format.

Awards and achievements

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Dean Evason

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Dean Evason (born August 22, 1964) is a Canadian coach and former player, currently serving as the of the National Hockey League's (NHL) . Born in , , Evason played 13 seasons in the NHL from 1983 to 1996, accumulating 139 goals and 233 assists for 372 points in 803 games across five teams: the , , , , and . Evason was selected by the in the fifth round (89th overall) of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft and spent the first eight years of his professional career with the team, where he established himself as a gritty, physical forward known for his penalty minutes and contributions on special teams. He later played for the (1991–1993), (1993–1995), and (1995–1996), finishing his NHL tenure with 1,002 penalty minutes over his career. After concluding his playing days in with EV Landshut in Germany's DEL during the 1997–1999 seasons, Evason transitioned to coaching, beginning as an assistant with the Western Hockey League's (WHL) in 1998–1999. His coaching career progressed through head coaching roles in the WHL with the (1999–2002), (2002–2004), and (2004–2005), followed by a stint as an assistant coach with the NHL's from 2005 to 2012, during which the team won four Southeastern Division titles and the 2009–2010 . Evason then led the American Hockey League's as head coach from 2012 to 2018, posting a 242–161–53 record and capturing the Central Division title in 2015–2016. He joined the as an assistant in 2018–2019 before being promoted to head coach in February 2020, where he guided the team to a 147–77–27 record in 251 games over parts of five seasons, achieving a .639 points percentage and four consecutive playoff appearances. Evason was relieved of his duties by the Wild on November 28, 2023, and hired by the Blue Jackets on July 22, 2024, on a multi-year contract. In his first season with Columbus during 2024–2025, he led the team to a 40–33–9 record and a fourth-place finish in the . In the 2025–26 season, as of November 17, 2025, the Blue Jackets have a 9–7–2 record. Additionally, Evason served as head coach for Team Canada at the .

Early life and playing career

Early life

Dean Evason was born on August 22, 1964, in , , . He was raised in a hockey-oriented family; his father played junior hockey for the Warriors in the 1965–66 season and later spent a year playing in , England, while his brother, Dan "Heavy" Evason, also suited up for the Warriors before his passing. Although born in Flin Flon—a remote mining town straddling the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border and celebrated for its deep-rooted junior hockey culture, exemplified by teams like the —Evason's family relocated to , when he was two years old, where he spent his early childhood until around age 10. The family then moved to for six years before settling in , providing Evason with formative experiences in northern prairie communities steeped in the sport. His initial forays into hockey occurred through local youth leagues in Thompson and later in Brandon, where the town's strong minor hockey programs helped nurture his skills amid a family legacy in the game. This background paved the way for his transition to junior hockey with the Kamloops Blazers in the Western Hockey League.

Junior career

Evason's upbringing in Flin Flon, Manitoba, laid the foundation for his intense passion for hockey, leading him to pursue competitive play at a young age. Evason began his junior hockey career in the Western Hockey League (WHL) during the 1980-81 season with the Spokane Flyers, appearing in just three games and recording one goal and one assist. The following year, he split time between the Flyers and the newly relocated Kamloops Junior Oilers, playing 26 games for Spokane (eight goals, 14 assists for 22 points) before joining Kamloops for 44 games (21 goals, 55 assists for 76 points), totaling 98 points across the season. This transition marked the start of his prominent role with the Kamloops franchise, which had moved from New Westminster earlier that year. In the 1982-83 season, Evason emerged as a dominant force for the Junior Oilers, leading the team and ranking among the WHL's top scorers with 71 goals and 93 assists for 164 points in 70 games. His exceptional performance earned him the WHL Player of the Year award, recognizing his offensive prowess and leadership as a . Evason's contributions helped solidify his reputation as one of the league's premier young talents. Following the 1981-82 season, Evason was selected by the in the fifth round, 89th overall, of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft, validating his potential as a future professional.

Professional career

Evason made his NHL debut with the during the 1983–84 season, appearing in two games without recording a point. After spending parts of his first two professional seasons splitting time between the Capitals and their affiliates, he was traded to the Hartford Whalers on March 11, 1985, along with goaltender prospect Peter Sidorkiewicz in exchange for goaltender . Evason established himself as a reliable checking center with the Whalers, where he spent the next six seasons and achieved his career-best performance in 1986–87, tallying 22 goals and 37 assists for 59 points in 80 . His tenure in highlighted his defensive prowess and physical play, contributing to the team's consistent playoff appearances during that period. On October 2, 1991, Evason was traded to the expansion for defenseman Dan Keczmer, where he played two seasons as a presence on a young roster, posting 12 goals and 19 assists in 84 during 1992–93. In June 1993, the Sharks traded Evason to the in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick (used to select Petri Varis), allowing him to join a competitive Western Conference team. He remained with for two seasons, serving primarily in a bottom-six role and adding 11 goals and 33 assists in 80 games in 1993–94. Evason signed as a with the in August 1995, wrapping up his NHL career there in 1995–96 with seven goals and seven assists in 67 games. Over 13 NHL seasons with five teams, Evason appeared in 803 regular-season games, accumulating 139 goals and 233 assists for 372 points, along with 1,002 penalty minutes, establishing himself as a gritty, defensive forward. Following his NHL tenure, he continued playing in , joining EV Zug of the Swiss Nationalliga A for three games in 1996–97, where he recorded one assist. Evason then moved to EV in Germany's for the final two seasons of his career, contributing 20 goals and 48 assists in 92 games across 1997–98 and 1998–99 before retiring at age 34 in 1999.

International career

1984 World Junior Championships

Dean Evason earned a spot on Team for the 1984 IIHF World Under-20 Championship during his standout junior season with the Junior Oilers of the , where he had already established himself as a prolific scorer. The tournament was hosted in and , , from December 26, 1983, to January 3, 1984, featuring eight teams in Pool A. posted a 4–2–1 record, securing fourth place with a 4–6 loss to in their final round-robin game. Playing a key offensive role as a forward, Evason recorded 6 goals and 3 assists for 9 points over 7 games, tying for fifth in tournament scoring among all players. His goal-scoring prowess provided crucial momentum in several contests, including Canada's 3–3 tie against the on January 2. Evason also contributed offensively in the matchup versus , though Canada fell short in the decisive contest.

1997 IIHF World Championship

Dean Evason was selected to Team for the 1997 IIHF World Championship while playing for in Switzerland's National League A during the 1996-97 season. The tournament, hosted in and , , from April 26 to May 14, marked Evason's first senior international appearance for after his NHL career. Named team captain at age 32, Evason brought veteran leadership from his 12 NHL seasons to guide a roster blending established players and emerging talents. Under Evason's captaincy, advanced through the round-robin stages with strong performances, including a 5-1 victory over the in the qualifying round. In the second round, defeated 1-0. The team then clinched gold by beating in a best-of-three final series, 2 games to 1, losing the first game 2–3 before winning 3–1 and 2–1. This marked 's second World Championship title in three years, following their 1994 victory that ended a 33-year since 1961. Evason played all 11 games, registering 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points while accumulating 20 penalty minutes. His scoring provided crucial secondary offense, and as a reliable , he contributed significantly to the penalty kill unit, helping maintain defensive solidity en route to the championship.

Coaching career

Western Hockey League

Evason began his head coaching career in the (WHL) in 1999 with the , returning to the team that had been his junior alma mater during the 1980s. Over three seasons from 1999 to 2002, he compiled a regular-season record of 109 wins, 83 losses, 17 ties, and 7 overtime losses, guiding the Blazers to consistent contention in the competitive Western Conference. In the 2001–02 season, Evason led to a 38–25–5–4 finish, securing first place in the B.C. Division and Western Conference, before advancing to the WHL finals, where they fell to the in five games. In 2002, Evason moved to the expansion as , where he spent two seasons building the franchise's foundation. His teams posted a combined regular-season mark of 59–61–14–10 across 2002–03 (26–37–5–4) and 2003–04 (33–24–9–6), qualifying for the in both years despite challenging transitions in a tough division. The Giants advanced to the second round in 2003–04, showcasing improved competitiveness under Evason's direction. Evason returned to in 2004 as co-head coach of the alongside , helping steer the team to a strong 34–23–9–6 regular-season performance and the East Division title with 83 points. The Hitmen earned a playoff berth and reached the Eastern Conference semifinals, losing to the . Following the season, Evason transitioned to the NHL as an assistant coach with the . Throughout his WHL tenure, Evason emphasized player development as a core principle, fostering young talents' growth while instilling an aggressive forechecking system to promote structured, high-energy play. This approach aligned with junior hockey's developmental focus, contributing to several players advancing to professional ranks during his time with the Blazers, Giants, and Hitmen.

American Hockey League

In June 2012, Dean Evason was hired as head coach of the , the affiliate of the . He held the position for six seasons through 2018, compiling an overall regular-season record of 242 wins, 161 losses, 29 overtime losses, and 24 shootout losses. Under his , the Admirals emphasized player development, with 43 players earning promotions to the NHL parent club during his tenure. Evason guided the Admirals to the Central Division title in the 2015–16 season, finishing with 101 points and the second-best record in the Western Conference. That year marked the team's deepest postseason run during his time in , as they swept the in the first round (3–0), defeated the in the second round (4–1), and advanced to the Central Division before falling to the Grand Rapids Griffins in five games (1–4). The Admirals qualified for the playoffs in four of Evason's six seasons, including division semifinal appearances in 2013 and 2014. Evason's coaching tenure focused on fostering young talent, notably contributing to the growth of forwards and Pontus Åberg, both of whom debuted with the Admirals as rookies in 2014–15 and went on to establish themselves as NHL contributors with the Predators. His system evolved to prioritize structured defensive play, addressing earlier inconsistencies in team defense to support offensive transitions and player progression. This approach built on his foundational experience coaching juniors in the .

National Hockey League

Evason entered the National Hockey League as an assistant coach with the in 2005, a role he held for seven seasons through 2012. During his tenure, the Capitals won four consecutive Southeast Division titles from 2008 to 2011 and captured the 2010 as the league's top regular-season team with 121 points. In June 2018, Evason joined the as an assistant coach under . He was elevated to interim on February 14, 2020, after Boudreau's dismissal, guiding the team to an 8-4-0 finish amid the shortened COVID-19-affected season. Evason was promoted to full-time on July 13, 2020, and led the Wild to three straight playoff appearances before being relieved of his duties on November 27, 2023, following a sluggish 5-10-4 start to the 2023-24 campaign that included a seven-game skid (0-5-2). Evason was hired as head coach of the on July 22, 2024, marking his return to an NHL bench. In the 2024-25 season, his first with Columbus, the team posted a 40-33-9 record, earning 89 points and a fourth-place finish in the while missing the . Evason assumed leadership shortly before the tragic deaths of forward and his brother Matthew on August 29, 2024, in a suspected drunk-driving incident, helping the organization navigate the profound grief during and the season opener. Entering November 2025, the 2025-26 season has seen the Blue Jackets endure a middling start around .500, with Evason actively adjusting line combinations to inject energy and address inconsistencies. After a 4-1 home loss to the on October 16, 2025—where Columbus managed just 23 shots—Evason publicly called out the team's passive approach and promptly reshuffled forward lines for subsequent games to heighten intensity. Evason's philosophy centers on a high-tempo, aggressive style that prioritizes puck pressure, structured play, and unwavering accountability from players. He fosters this through direct post-game feedback, often venting frustrations to underscore the need for consistent execution and effort in all zones.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Dean Evason played 803 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) over 13 seasons from 1983–84 to 1995–96, split among the , , , , and . His regular season totals included 139 goals, 233 assists, 372 points, and 1,002 penalty minutes.

NHL Regular Season

SeasonTeamGPGAPtsPIM
1983–84WSH20002
1984–852TM173472
1985–86HAR5520284865
1986–87HAR8022375967
1987–88HAR77101828115
1988–89HAR6711172860
1989–90HAR78182543138
1990–91HAR7562329170
1991–92SJS7411152699
1992–93SJS84121931132
1993–94DAL8011334466
1994–95DAL47871548
1995–96CGY67771438
Note: 2TM indicates two teams ( and ); WSH = ; HAR = ; SJS = ; DAL = ; CGY = . Evason appeared in 55 NHL playoff games across nine postseasons, recording 9 goals, 20 assists, 29 points, and 132 penalty minutes.

NHL Playoffs

SeasonTeamGPGAPtsPIM
1985–86HAR1014510
1986–87HAR532535
1987–88HAR61122
1988–89HAR412310
1989–90HAR722422
1990–91HAR604429
1993–94DAL902212
1994–95DAL512312
1995–96CGY30110
Note: Team abbreviations as above. Prior to establishing himself in the NHL, Evason played 91 games in the (AHL) with the , tallying 36 goals, 66 assists, 102 points, and 67 penalty minutes.

AHL Regular Season

SeasonTeamGPGAPtsPIM
1984–85Binghamton Whalers6527497638
1985–86Binghamton Whalers269172629

International

Evason represented at two major international tournaments during his playing career.

1984 World Junior Championships

TournamentGPGAPtsPIM
World Junior U-20 Championships76390

1997 IIHF World Championship

TournamentGPGAPtsPIM
World Championships Pool A1123520

Head coaching record

WHL

Evason began his head coaching career in the (WHL) with the in 1999, leading the team to a WHL championship in 2002 before moving to the and later serving as co-head coach for the .
SeasonTeamRegular seasonPointsFinishPlayoffs
1999–0036–30–5–1784th B.C. Division, 7th Western ConferenceLost in first round, 0–4 (vs. )
2000–0135–28–7–2793rd B.C. Division, 6th Western ConferenceLost in first round, 0–4 (vs. )
2001–0238–25–5–4851st B.C. Division, 2nd Western ConferenceWon WHL championship: 16–7 (4–0 vs. ; 4–2 vs. ; 4–0 vs. ; 4–1 vs. )
2002–0326–37–5–4614th B.C. Division, 8th Western ConferenceLost in first round, 0–4 (vs. )
2003–0433–24–9–6812nd B.C. Division, 5th Western ConferenceLost in conference semifinals, 6–5 (4–1 vs. ; 2–4 vs. )
2004–05 (co-head coach)34–23–9–6833rd Central Division, 4th Eastern ConferenceLost in conference semifinals, 7–5 (4–1 vs. ; 3–4 vs. )
Over six seasons in the WHL, Evason compiled a record of 202–167–40–23 (467 points) and a playoff record of 25–29. His most notable achievement came in 2002, when he guided the to the WHL championship, defeating the in the finals.

AHL

Dean Evason coached the of the from the 2012–13 season through the 2017–18 season, guiding the team to consistent regular-season contention as the primary affiliate of the . His tenure emphasized player development for eventual NHL transitions, resulting in four playoff appearances despite challenges in advancing deep into the postseason. The following table summarizes his season-by-season regular-season and playoff records with the Admirals:
SeasonWLOTLSOLPtsDivision FinishPlayoff Result
2012–13412843893rd CentralLost in first round, 1–3 (vs. )
2013–14392467913rd CentralLost in first round, 0–4 (vs. )
2014–15332887815th CentralDid not qualify
2015–164823321012nd CentralLost in first round, 0–3 (vs. )
2016–17432643933rd CentralLost in first round, 0–4 (vs. )
2017–18383242825th CentralDid not qualify
In 2015–16, the Admirals captured the Central Division title with a league-high 101 points, marking one of the franchise's strongest campaigns under Evason. Across 456 regular-season games, Evason amassed a record of 242–161–29–24 (.589 points percentage), establishing him as the winningest in Admirals AHL history at the time of his departure. His playoff mark stood at 1–12, reflecting the team's struggles to translate regular-season performance into extended postseason runs.

NHL

Evason began his NHL head coaching tenure with the as interim coach late in the 2019-20 season before being promoted to full-time in July 2020, guiding the team through parts of five seasons until his dismissal on November 27, 2023, following a 5-10-4 start; he was hired as of the on July 22, 2024. During his time with the Wild, Evason compiled a regular-season record of 147-77-27 across 251 games, achieving a .616 points percentage and leading the team to four playoff berths, though they advanced no further than the first round each time with an overall postseason mark of 5-16.
SeasonTeamRegular SeasonFinishPlayoffs
2019–20Minnesota Wild8–4–0 (16 pts)6th in CentralLost in qualifying round, 1–4 (Vancouver Canucks)
2020–21Minnesota Wild35–16–5 (75 pts)3rd in WestLost in first round, 0–4 (Vegas Golden Knights)
2021–22Minnesota Wild53–21–8 (114 pts)2nd in CentralLost in first round, 2–4 (St. Louis Blues)
2022–23Minnesota Wild46–25–11 (103 pts)3rd in CentralLost in first round, 2–4 (Dallas Stars)
2023–24Minnesota Wild5–10–4 (14 pts)—Did not qualify
With the Blue Jackets, Evason posted a 40-33-9 record in the 2024-25 season, earning 89 points and a fourth-place finish in the , but the team missed the . In the ongoing 2025-26 season, as of November 17, 2025, the Blue Jackets stand at [updated W-L-OTL] ([updated pts] points) through [updated games] games, placing [updated standing] in the .
SeasonTeamRegular SeasonFinishPlayoffs
2024–2540–33–9 (89 pts)4th in MetropolitanDid not qualify
2025–26[updated W]–[updated L]–[updated OTL] ([updated pts] pts)[updated standing] in Metropolitan (partial)—
Overall, Evason's NHL head coaching record up to the end of the 2024-25 season stands at 187-110-36 in 333 regular-season games (.615 points percentage) with no playoff appearances during his Columbus tenure to date.

Awards and achievements

As player

During his junior career with the Junior Oilers in the (WHL), Evason earned the Molson/Cooper WHL Player of the Year award in 1982–83 after leading the league with 164 points (71 goals and 93 assists) in 70 games. He was named to the WHL West First Team in 1983–84. In the 1983–84 playoffs, Evason tied for the WHL lead with 21 goals in 17 games, helping win the league championship (). Internationally, Evason represented at the 1984 World Junior Championships, contributing to a finish with six goals in seven games. He later captained the senior national team to a at the 1997 IIHF World Championship in , recording two goals and three assists in 11 games.

As coach

Evason began his coaching career in the (WHL) as an assistant with the , contributing to their victory as WHL champions in 1998–99. As head coach of the from 1999 to 2002 and the from 2002 to 2004, he guided both teams to playoff appearances, though no individual coaching awards were bestowed during this period. In the (AHL), Evason served as head coach of the from 2012 to 2018, leading the team to five consecutive playoff berths and a Central Division title in 2015–16 with a 48–23–5 record. That season, the Admirals advanced to the Western Conference Finals, falling in five games to the Grand Rapids Griffins after defeating the and in earlier rounds. He also coached the Central Division squad at the 2016 AHL Classic. While specific nominations for the Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award (AHL Coach of the Year) were not documented in major records, his tenure established the Admirals' franchise marks for regular-season wins (242) and points (536). Evason's National Hockey League (NHL) achievements include being named a finalist for the in 2020–21 after guiding the to a 35–11–4 record following his midseason promotion, securing a Central Division title with 75 points in 50 games amid the shortened schedule. He finished fourth in voting the following season (2021–22), when the Wild swept the defending champion in the first round before advancing to the second round. With the in 2024–25, Evason orchestrated a significant turnaround post the tragic deaths of forward and his brother Matthew in August 2024, leading the team to a 40–33–9 record (89 points) and a fourth-place finish in the —an improvement of 23 points from the prior season's 66 points—earning him fifth place in voting with five second-place and fifteen third-place votes. Evason served as head coach for Team at the , leading the team to a fifth-place finish.

References

  1. https://www.nhl.com/bluejackets/team/evason
  2. https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/38455/dean-evason
  3. https://www.nhl.com/player/dean-evason-8458458
  4. https://www.nhl.com/bluejackets/news/blue-jackets-name-dean-evason-head-coach
  5. https://www.eliteprospects.com/staff/1224/dean-evason
  6. https://www.nhl.com/news/five-questions-with-dean-evason-315485774
  7. https://www.nhl.com/bluejackets/news/dean-evason-steve-mccarthy-hockey-canada-iihf-world-championships
  8. https://www.highlandcountypress.com/sports/columbus-blue-jackets-name-dean-evason-head-coach
  9. https://www.brandonsun.com/sports/hockey/2020/03/22/hall-in-the-family
  10. https://www.nhl.com/bluejackets/news/5-things-to-know-dean-evason-blue-jackets-coach
  11. https://www.thereminder.ca/local-sports/flin-flon-born-evason-named-minnesota-wild-head-coach-4152331
  12. https://businessviewmagazine.com/flin-flon-manitoba-manitoba-and-saskatchewan-canada/
  13. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5828025/2024/10/09/dean-evason-columbus-blue-jackets/
  14. https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets/2025/08/29/fiery-dean-evason-steered-columbus-blue-jackets-through-tragedy/85603833007/
  15. https://www.brandonsun.com/sports/hockey/2017/05/27/evason-enjoying-preds-run-as-his-former-players-thrive
  16. https://www.thereminder.ca/local-sports/former-flonner-evason-nominated-for-nhl-top-head-coach-award-4210959
  17. https://www.nhl.com/player/dean-evason-8446743
  18. https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=1604
  19. https://chl.ca/whl-blazers/history/
  20. https://www.hockeydraftcentral.com/1982/82089.html
  21. http://www.nhltradetracker.com/user/trade_list_by_player/Evason%2CDean
  22. http://nhltradeshistory.blogspot.com/2007/08/trades-of-1993.html
  23. http://nhltradeshistory.blogspot.com/2007/08/trades-of-1995.html
  24. https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/e/evasode01.html
  25. https://www.iihf.com/en/news/70478/countdown_to_50_part_2_-_canada_wins_first_gold_at
  26. https://www.quanthockey.com/wjc-u20/en/seasons/1984-wjc-u20-players-stats.html
  27. https://theihlc.com/1984/01/02/ihlc-results-soviet-union-3-3-canada-02-jan-1984/
  28. https://www.quanthockey.com/whc/en/teams/team-canada-players-1997-whc-stats.html
  29. https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/columbus-blue-jackets-dean-evason-head-coach-canada-iihf-world-championship
  30. https://chl.ca/whl-blazers/2001-02-a-division-championship/
  31. https://theahl.com/news/milwaukee-names-evason-coach
  32. https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0009942005.html
  33. https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/whl19792005.html
  34. https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/sports/capitals-assistant-dean-evason-takes-ahl-head-coaching-job-as-more-coacing-candidates-surface/2064605/
  35. https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/hockey/2018/06/06/after-six-years-dean-evason-departs-admirals-nhl-position/676940002/
  36. https://theahl.com/news/evason-joins-minnesota-coaching-staff
  37. https://theahl.com/stats/playoffs/53
  38. https://unionandblue.com/posts/as-the-blue-jackets-bring-on-dean-evason-a-dive-into-his-head-coaching-record-01j3jynecyyn
  39. https://www.ontheforecheck.com/the-2015-milwaukee-admirals-season-in-review/
  40. https://admiralsroundtable.com/2015/09/28/milwaukee-admirals-2015-16-season-preview/
  41. https://theahl.com/news/evason-carries-on-the-tradition
  42. https://www.iowawild.com/news/detail/minnesota-wild-names-dean-evason-full-time-head-coach
  43. https://www.nhl.com/news/minnesota-wild-fire-coach-dean-evason
  44. https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CBJ/2025.html
  45. https://www.nhl.com/news/johnny-gaudreau-dies-at-31
  46. https://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/401802418
  47. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6707897/2025/10/12/blue-jackets-coach-lineup/
  48. https://pocketcbj.substack.com/p/a-tactical-preview-of-dean-evason
  49. https://www.startribune.com/all-wild-interim-coach-dean-evason-can-do-is-stay-ready-during-shutdown/570028262
  50. https://chl.ca/whl-blazers/article/former-whl-champion-coach-evason-named-to-coaching-staff-for-2024-iihf-world-championship/
  51. https://chl.ca/whl-blazers/1999-00-a-new-beginning/
  52. https://chl.ca/whl-blazers/2000-01-improvement-and-dissapointment/
  53. https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/playoffdisplay.php?league=whl1979&season=2003
  54. https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/playoffdisplay.php?league=whl1979&season=2005
  55. https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/38993712/stuck-seven-game-skid-minnesota-wild-fire-dean-evason
  56. https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolschram/2024/07/22/columbus-blue-jackets-name-dean-evason-head-coach/
  57. https://www.hockey-reference.com/coaches/evasode01c.html
  58. https://www.nhl.com/bluejackets
  59. https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CBJ/2026.html
  60. https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/whl/stats/1983-1984/playoffs
  61. https://chl.ca/whl-giants/article/former-whl-champion-coach-evason-named-head-coach-in-columbus/
  62. https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/hockey/2016/04/26/griffins-4-admirals-1-grand-rapids-knocks-milwaukee-out-of-ahl-playoffs/84959998/
  63. https://www.instagram.com/p/DKmsT3PArdA/
  64. https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/mens-worlds-coaches-named-2025-mwc
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