(Saint Paul) The Minnesota Wild fired head coach Dean Evason and replaced him with John Hynes on Monday following a seven-game losing streak.
General manager Bill Guerin also announced the dismissal of assistant instructor Bob Woods. The Wild have suffered 14 losses in 19 games since the start of the season.
Evason, 59, was almost a quarter of the way through his fourth full season at the helm of the Wild. He got his first job as an NHL head coach in February 2020 when the club fired Bruce Boudreau.
He was 144-77-27 in 251 regular season games and 8-15 in the playoffs without being able to win a series.
The conclusion to the 2021-22 season was particularly disappointing, as the Wild were eliminated in six games by the Blues after coming off a 113-point campaign. This harvest constitutes a team record.
“Dean has done an excellent job during his time with the Wild, particularly as head coach of our team,” said Guerin. I am very grateful for his hard work and dedication to our organization. »
“I would also like to thank Bob for his work with the Wild. I wish Dean and Bob and their families the best for the future. »
Hynes, who managed the New Jersey Devils and Nashville Predators, will be formally introduced at a news conference scheduled for Tuesday before the game against the St. Louis Blues.
He had a record of 284-255-63 in eight seasons in the NHL. The Predators fired him on May 30, six weeks after the team missed the playoffs.
Things haven’t been going great for the Wild (5-10-4) so far this season, with the roster seeing almost no changes this offseason due to salary cap constraints.
Matt Boldy, who scored 31 goals last season, scored just once in 12 games in the first year of his seven-year, $49 million contract. Kirill Kaprizov – the club’s highest-paid player with an annual salary of 9 million – meanwhile has six goals in 19 outings.
Only the San Jose Sharks have allowed more goals per game than the Wild (3.95).
Evason is the second head coach to be fired this season in the NHL after Jay Woodcroft of the Edmonton Oilers. The latter was replaced by Kris Knoblauch, and the Oilers have won four of their seven games since.
Ryan Hartman suspendu
The Wild also learned Monday that their forward Ryan Hartman was suspended for two games after he dangerously tripped Alex DeBrincat of the Detroit Red Wings.
According to the NHL’s explanations, Hartman’s action was premeditated.
This is Hartman’s second suspension this year. He was sidelined for a game in April due to an obstructive gesture.
Deemed a repeat offender under the collective bargaining agreement, Hartman will be deprived of $41,463. He will miss the duels against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday and against the Nashville Predators two days later.
He will be able to return to the lineup on Sunday against the Chicago Blackhawks.