The Minnesota Wild announced Monday it relieved coach Dean Evason and assistant coach Bob Woods of their duties. John Hynes is expected to be the new coach, according to reports.
The Minnesota Wild decided to go a different route on Monday, firing coach Dean Evason and assistant coach Bob Woods.
No interim coach was named in the team's announcement, but Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman and The Athletic's Michael Russo report the Wild are expected to hire John Hynes as the seventh coach in franchise history.
The Wild currently sit 30th in the NHL ahead of Monday's games with a 5-10-4 record for 14 points. Only the Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks sit lower in the standings than Minnesota, who finished last season third in the Central Division and bowed out in the first round to the Dallas Stars.
“Dean did an excellent job during his tenure with the Minnesota Wild, especially as head coach of our team,” Wild GM Bill Guerin said in a statement. “I am very thankful for his hard work and dedication to our organization.”
“I would also like to thank Bob for his hard work during his time as an assistant coach with the Wild,” said Guerin. “I wish Dean, Bob and their families all the best in the future.”
Evason, 59, was in his fifth season coaching the team, compiling a 147-77-27 record over that time in the regular season and an 8-15 record in the post-season. The Wild was Evason's first assignment as an NHL head coach, being promoted from an assistant in February 2020. Before that, the Flin Flon, Man., native spent six seasons coaching the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals and seven campaigns between 2005 and 2012 as an assistant with the Washington Capitals.
Woods, 55, was an assistant coach for the Wild since 2016-17 and has also been an assistant for the Washington Capitals between 2009-10 and 2013-14.
As for what's next, Hynes brings eight seasons of NHL head coaching experience to the Wild. He got his start with the New Jersey Devils in 2015-16, spending parts of the five seasons with the club and compiling a 150-159-45 record. The Devils parted with him in December 2019, and the Nashville Predators brought him on as their bench boss a month later.
Hynes, 48, saw slightly more success in Nashville, with a 134-96-18 regular-season record and three post-season appearances compared to his one with New Jersey. However, the Preds were eliminated in the 2020 bubble playoff qualifying series, lost in the first round the following season and were swept in 2022.
The Wild play their next game on Tuesday at home against the St. Louis Blues and face the Predators on Thursday in Nashville.
Check out Dylan Loucks' analysis of the coaching decision on THN's Minnesota Wild site.