In a surprising move, the Minnesota Wild announced on Monday that they have relieved Dean Evason of his head coaching duties. Evason, who had been with the Wild since 2018 as an assistant coach, was promoted to interim head coach in February 2020 and became the team's sixth full-time coach in July of the same year.

The decision to replace Evason came amidst a seven-game losing streak for the Wild, leaving them searching for answers to snap out of their slump. Despite their struggles, Evason believed that the team was on the right track and didn't anticipate being dismissed.

President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin called Evason into Wild headquarters on Monday, where it became clear that a coaching change was imminent. Evason admitted that he had a feeling he would be fired before even entering the meeting. In an emotional moment, Evason and Guerin shared a conversation and a hug.

Alongside Evason, the Wild also released assistant coach Bob Woods and appointed John Hynes as their new head coach. Hynes, who previously served as the head coach for the New Jersey Devils and Nashville Predators, is expected to bring a fresh perspective and provide the team with the much-needed spark.

Under Evason's coaching tenure, the Wild achieved several successes. In the shortened 2021 season, the team reached the playoffs and secured a spot in a seven-game playoff series against Vegas. The following season saw the Wild set a franchise record of 53 wins and 113 points, accompanied by a historic number of goals scored (305).

However, injuries, personal slumps, and special-teams struggles plagued the Wild this season. Additionally, the team faced budget constraints due to the buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. These factors contributed to the team's inability to find consistent scoring, which ultimately hurt their performance early on.

Despite the coaching change, the Wild showcased a much-improved performance in their first game under Hynes, defeating the St. Louis Blues 3-1 on Tuesday night. The players seemed to respond positively to the coaching change, playing with energy and speed.

Evason, who expressed gratitude for the opportunity to coach in Minnesota, will now focus on his future and plans to coach again. Meanwhile, the Wild and their new head coach, John Hynes, look forward to building on the team's previous successes and continuing their pursuit of a bright future.

As Evason packs up and prepares to leave Minnesota, he reflects on his time with the Wild fondly, particularly the players and the passionate fanbase. While his coaching career in Minnesota may have come to an end, Evason remains passionate about the game and is eager for the opportunity to contribute to another team in the future.

As the Wild move forward with Hynes at the helm, all eyes will be on how the team continues to respond and whether they can regain their winning form.