Dean Evason has achieved remarkable success in the realm of hockey, and his inaugural experience as a head coach was no exception.

The recent coach for the Blue Jackets had a prosperous run in Minnesota for nearly five seasons. He guided the Wild to four playoff appearances, including their most outstanding season ever. However, like many NHL coaches, his tenure came to an end last season when he was let go due to a sluggish start.

Add it all up, though, and his tenure in Minnesota was largely a success, with Evason’s .639 points percentage seventh all-time among NHL coaches with at least 250 games behind the bench.

Now in charge of the Blue Jackets, the longtime player and coach hopes to try to establish a team-first culture of accountability in Columbus just as he did in Minnesota.

What steps will he take to accomplish this, and what valuable lessons has he gained from his extensive experience in hockey, including his time in Minnesota?

After his introductory press conference on Tuesday, Evason responded to five questions from BlueJackets.com.

Hockey coaches talk about culture all the time, and you mentioned accountability a lot today in your press conference. As a coach, how do you instill those types of attributes in a locker room?

Is it necessary to discuss and demonstrate accountability? Absolutely. When addressing the topic of accountability, it is essential for me to lead by example. If I make an error, it is crucial for others to recognize that I take responsibility for it and acknowledge it. This level of accountability will be evident to the players. The underlying principle here is honesty. By prioritizing discussions about the team as a whole, it fosters an environment where the players themselves hold each other accountable. This is the ultimate goal, as it surpasses the coach or coaching staff holding players accountable. When players take responsibility for each other, that’s when true progress is made.

You have a lot of experience in the game, but Minnesota was your first head coaching job. Being in the big chair is a little bit different than any other challenge. I’m sure you have reflected a lot over the last year, so what do you feel like you learned about the job?

Having a great deal of responsibility necessitates the presence of an excellent coaching staff. When I mention a coaching staff, I am not only referring to the coaches themselves. It encompasses the video personnel, the trainers, the medical and equipment staffs, as well as the strength and fitness experts. A strong and cohesive team is crucial in this regard. The same principles of being team-first and holding each other accountable that we emphasize within our team also apply to our coaches room.

Have I gained a significant amount of knowledge? Absolutely. I can delve into extensive explanations about the various aspects that I intend to modify, adjust, and experiment with, whether it’s something I didn’t attempt before or something I did and realized it’s not worth repeating. However, the ultimate result is improvement. I am certain that I am now a more skilled coach than I was on the day I was terminated, and I am eager to implement that growth.

Out of curiosity, you had a whole season essentially to be on the sidelines. Did you pay a lot of attention to the game, or did you need a mental break? I assume you wanted to do this again, so how did you approach the rest of last year?

If you know any coach, escaping their influence is impossible. Even if you’re not actively watching, your mind is constantly occupied with thoughts like, “Maybe I should try this.” You find yourself jotting down notes or using voice dictation on your phone. In the past, I used to keep a notepad by my bed and wake up at 3 AM to write down drills or ideas. Now, it’s as simple as speaking into my phone and going back to sleep. So, being a coach is a continuous endeavor. It’s always evolving, but at its core, hockey has remained the same for a long time: score goals and prevent them. Our task is to find new ways to accomplish that.

You were a player who scored a lot of goals in junior and got to the NHL and had to play a more combative style of game. How much did your playing career inform the way you coach because you could probably draw from a lot of experiences?

I believe it’s essential to give your all, especially as a former player. However, it’s important to avoid constantly referencing one’s own playing days as the game has evolved significantly since then. Nonetheless, I understand what it’s like to be benched as a fourth line player and only get limited ice time. I also understand the experience of playing extensive minutes in junior hockey. So, while it’s crucial to draw from those experiences, I urge our group to ask themselves if they are willing to do whatever it takes to play in the National Hockey League. Many players are willing to do anything to reach that level, and that’s what I had to do. Whether it involved checking, physicality, or even fighting occasionally, I had to do whatever was necessary. However, the next question is whether our group is willing to go beyond that and do anything to win. While many players will do anything to make it to the NHL, the challenge now is whether they are willing to do anything to contribute to their team’s success.

I want to ask how you got into coaching. Was it something you thought about during your playing career, or did the opportunity just come along?

To be honest, when I retired from the NHL, I had expected to secure another contract. However, the Calgary Flames bought me out and Andy Murray approached me to join Team Canada as both a player and assistant coach. I spent a year in the coaching role and realized how much I enjoyed it. What are your plans after hockey? Well, at the time, I didn’t have enough money to retire. I had always believed that earning 100 grand in this league would make me rich and set me up for life, but that wasn’t the case. However, what truly resonated with me was the opportunity to still compete for the Stanley Cup. I was willing to do whatever it took to achieve that. I still have that burning passion and desire when I step on the ice. Sure, facing criticism is tough, but the thrill of success is incomparable. Initially, I never thought I would become a coach while I was still a player since my focus was solely on the game. However, as my playing career came to an end, coaching became my true calling.