As the Wild enters training camp, the players will know Dean Evason isn’t an interim head coach anymore.
The team announced on Monday that they are dropping the interim tag and making the 55-year-old their full-time coach. Evason also gets an extension out of the deal, with his contract running through the end of the 2021-22 NHL season.
“Dean has done a fantastic job as our interim head coach and deserves this opportunity,” said Wild general manager Bill Guerin in a statement. “I look forward to watching our team under his leadership going forward.”
[Full schedule for 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers]
Evason took over coaching duties on Feb. 14 following Bruce Boudreau’s dismissal. In 12 games he led the Wild to an 8-4-0 record. He was part of Boudreau’s staff after joining the team for the start of the 2018-19 season following six years in charge of the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals.
The Wild are set to face the Canucks in their best-of-five Stanley Cup Qualifier series beginning on Aug. 2.
MORE:
• Hockey is back: NHL, NHLPA ratify CBA, return to play agreement
• Salary cap to stay flat at $81.5 million
————
Sean Leahy is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @Sean_Leahy.