Five months after being named the interim head coach of the Minnesota Wild, Dean Evason, has had the interim tag dropped by the NHL team.

Its as the former Blazers coach – and Junior Oilers centre – led the Wild to an 8-4-0 record since taking over from Bruce Boudreau. Evason is in his second season with Minnesota after being named an Assistant Coach in 2018.

“I am very excited to announce that Dean Evason is our full-time head coach,” said Wild GM Bill Guerin. “Dean has done a fantastic job as our interim head coach and deserves this opportunity. I look forward to watching our team under his leadership going forward.”

Evason and the Wild – including former Blazers goalie Devan Dubnyk – are preparing to take on the Vancouver Canucks in a best-of-five qualifying round, if and when the NHL is able to return from its COVID-19 hiatus.

Prior to joining the Wild, the 55-year-old Flin Flon, Manitoba native spent several seasons as an assistant coach with the Washington Capitals, and as head coach of the Milwaukee Admirals.

As as Junior Oiler, Evason scored 141 goals and 236 assists in 171 games in Kamloops over two and a half seasons. He coached the Blazers from 1999 to 2002 – his first head coaching role – but failed to make it past the first round of playoffs in each of the three seasons.

(Photo via Minnesota Wild)

i̵n̵t̵e̵r̵i̵m̵ Head Coach Dean Evason.

NEWS: The #mnwild has named Dean Evason its full-time Head Coach.

🗞 » https://t.co/qSj8ZCNwEJ pic.twitter.com/G6EEnHOHEI

— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) July 13, 2020