Evason, 56, led the Wild to a 35-16-5 record in 56 games in his first full season as the head coach of the Minnesota Wild - the second-most wins and team points through 56 games in franchise history. The team's .670 points percentage is the highest in team history. The Flin Flon, Man., native led Minnesota to a 21-5-2 record in 28 home games this season to record its highest home point percentage in team history (.786), including a franchise-best 11-game home win streak from Jan. 31-March 25. The 2020-21 season marked the first campaign in franchise history the Wild never had a losing streak (regulation and OT/SO) longer than two games. Under Evason, Minnesota recorded three win streaks of five-or-more games in a season for the third time in team history (2014-15, 2011-12), was one of eight NHL teams with eight double digit goal scorers and was one of three NHL teams to have 12 players to record at least 20 points. The Wild ranked T-8th in the League in total goals scored (non-shootout) - the second time in team history Minnesota finished in the top 10 of the NHL (second in 2016-17) and ranked second in the League in goals scored at home (101). He was named interim head coach on Feb. 14, 2020 and is 43-20-5 (.670) in 68 regular season career games and 4-7 (.364) in 11 career Stanley Cup Playoff contests with Minnesota. Evason joined the organization as an assistant coach on June 6, 2018.
Prior to joining the Wild, Evason spent six seasons (2012-18) as head coach of the Milwaukee Admirals in the American Hockey League (AHL), leading the team to a record of 242-161-53 (.588). He spent seven seasons as an assistant coach with the Washington Capitals (2005-12), in which the Capitals went 294-206-74 (.576) and claimed four straight Southeast Division titles, advanced to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of his last five seasons (2008-12) and won the 2010 Presidents' Trophy. The former NHL forward also spent six seasons as a head coach in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Calgary Hitmen (2004-05), Vancouver Giants (2002-04) and Kamloops Blazers (1999-02).
Evason is the Wild's second Jack Adams Award finalist, also 2003 winner, Jacques Lemaire. The Wild has four finalists for this year's awards, the most in a season in team history. The winners of the 2021 NHL Awards, presented by Bridgestone, will be revealed during the Stanley Cup Semifinals and Stanley Cup Final, with exact dates, format and times to be announced.
Evason could become the 12th coach, since the Jack Adams Award was first presented in 1973-74, to win the award in his first NHL season as a head coach (full and midseason replacements): Bobby Kromm (DET, 1977-78), Pat Quinn (PHI, 1979-80), Gordon Berenson (STL, 1980-81), Tom Watt (WPG, 1981-82), Orval Tessier (CHI, 1982-83), Mike Keenan (PHI, 1984-85), Pat Burns (MTL, 1988-89), Marc Crawford (QUE, 1994-95), Bill Barber (PHI, 2000-01), Bruce Boudreau (WSH, 2007-08) and Patrick Roy (COL, 2013-14).
Rod Brind'Amour of the Carolina Hurricanes and Joel Quenneville of the Florida Panthers are the other finalists for the Jack Adams Award. Members of the NHL Broadcasters' Association submitted ballots for the Jack Adams Award at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists. The Jack Adams Award was presented by the NHL Broadcasters' Association in 1974 in honor of the late Jack Adams, longtime coach and general manager of the Detroit Red Wings.
