3. His approach to the team game...
Dean Evason talked about having a hard working group with a team first mentality. When I think of a hockey team, those are probably the two most important things that I look for in a contender.
Getting 23 guys to play for the crest on the front of their jersey - rather than the name on the back - should be the goal of any head coach. Honestly, that's been part of the problem here since John Tortorella parted ways with the organization.
The team hasn't held itself accountable. You can see it in their on-ice results. One thing that Evason said on the subject, which really stood out:
#CBJ coach Dean Evason on his expectations:
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) July 23, 2024
"When we go into a building or teams come in here, they know that if they don't work hard, they lose. Simple as that. Our hockey club will work hard each and every night."
What more can you want? A passionate, caring, intelligent hockey guy who wants to ice a hard working, competitive team.
We all had our preferred candidates, but in the end, it's easy to see why Waddell and the Jackets are giving Evason a shot here. He checks all of the important boxes, and after seeing his presser today, I'm sold. I'm excited to see what next season will look like for this team.