Dean Evason is a former professional ice hockey player and current head coach of the Minnesota Wild in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was born on August 22, 1964, in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada. Evason began his hockey career in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Kamloops Junior Oilers in 1980. He played for the team for four seasons, scoring 139 goals and 204 assists in 267 games.
In 1984, Evason was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the fifth round of the NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Capitals in the 1983-84 season, playing in 13 games and scoring two goals and three assists. He played for the Capitals for three seasons before being traded to the Hartford Whalers in 1987.
Evason played for the Whalers for two seasons before being traded to the San Jose Sharks in 1991. He played for the Sharks for one season before being traded to the Dallas Stars in 1992. He played for the Stars for two seasons before being traded to the Calgary Flames in 1994. He played for the Flames for one season before being traded back to the Sharks in 1995.
Evason played for the Sharks for two seasons before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks in 1997. He played for the Canucks for one season before being traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in 1998. He played for the Blackhawks for one season before retiring from professional hockey in 1999.
After retiring from playing, Evason began his coaching career as an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Admirals in the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2003. He was promoted to head coach of the Admirals in 2005 and led the team to the Calder Cup Finals in 2006. He was named the AHL Coach of the Year in 2012.
In 2012, Evason was hired as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Wild in the NHL. He served as an assistant coach for six seasons before being named the interim head coach of the team in February 2020. He was named the permanent head coach of the Wild in July 2020.
Throughout his hockey career, Evason was known for his versatility and leadership on the ice. He played in 803 NHL games, scoring 139 goals and 233 assists for a total of 372 points. As a coach, he has been praised for his ability to develop young players and his attention to detail.
🏒