Are we any closer to a decision?
It's been two weeks since the Columbus Blue Jackets were said to be nearing a decision for its next coach. Then talks with Todd McLellan broke down.
Last week, it was reported by The Athletic's Aaron Portzline that the Columbus Blue Jackets were going to be having in-person conversations with both Dean Evason and Jay Woodcroft for the team's head coaching vacancy.
As Portzline reported Sunday, Woodcroft met with the team last Tuesday and Evason talked with the team on Wednesday or Thursday.
Where things stand today remains anyone's best guess, and you wonder if the Blue Jackets will have its next head coach in place first or go to salary arbitration for the first time with one of its players.
Both pressing matters are in play.
President and general manager Don Waddell does not want to be without a coach by Aug. 1. Kirill Marchenko, Kent Johnson, and Cole Sillinger remain unsigned. Only Marchenko is eligible for arbitration and if a deal is not reached between Marchenko and the team by July 31, there will be an arbitration hearing that day for the first time.
Over the next week, you'd expect to hear more on the coaching search and whether a final decision has been made between Evason and Woodcroft. And maybe even someone else.
So, let's dig deeper into the candidates we know of in play.
Evason coached the Minnesota Wild from 2019-24, qualifying for the postseason in each of his first four seasons, but the Wild never advanced past the first round.
Evason's coaching career started as an assistant in the WHL in 1998-99 before taking a head coach job at that level the very next season. He became an assistant coach for the Washington Capitals in 2005 and remained there until taking a head coaching job with the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals, a role he held from 2012 until 2018. Evason joined the Wild as an assistant and eventually became head coach during the 2019-20 campaign.
Evason was also an assistant for Team Canada at the World Championship in May, alongside Woodcroft. Rick Nash was the general manager of Team Canada.
| Regular season | Postseason | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Year | G | W | L | OTL | Pts | Finish | W | L | Win% | Result |
| MIN | 2019–20 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 16 | 6th in Central | 1 | 3 | .250 | Lost NHL Qualifying Round (VAN) |
| MIN | 2020–21 | 82 | 35 | 16 | 5 | 75 | 3rd in West | 3 | 4 | .429 | Lost in Conference Quarterfinals (VGK) |
| MIN | 2021–22 | 82 | 48 | 25 | 7 | 113 | 2nd in Central | 2 | 4 | .333 | Lost in Conference Quarterfinals (STL) |
| MIN | 2022–23 | 82 | 43 | 29 | 11 | 103 | 3rd in Central | 2 | 4 | .333 | Lost in Conference Quarterfinals (DAL) |
| MIN | 2023–24 | 48 | 25 | 16 | 4 | 14 | Fired | — | — | — | — |
| TOTAL | 251 | 147 | 77 | 27 | 8 | 15 | .348 | 4 POSTSEASON APPEARANCES | |||
Woodcroft was in Edmonton from 2021-24, guiding the Oilers to the playoffs in his first two seasons. Like Evason, a tough start to last season cost him his job.
While perhaps talks with McLellan and the Blue Jackets pick back up, the team might be further enticed by Woodcroft as their Plan B due to his longstanding relationship with McLellan.
Woodcroft and McLellan each come from the Mike Babcock coaching tree with the Detroit Red Wings, where they won the Stanley Cup in 2007-08.
McLellan was an assistant to Babcock and Woodcroft was the video coach.
When McLellan left to become the head coach of the San Jose Sharks in 2008-09, Woodcroft joined his staff as an assistant behind the bench.
Both later ended up with the Oilers together, again with McLellan as head coach and Woodcroft as an assistant. Woodcroft would also end up coaching AHL Bakersfield from 2018-22.
| Regular season | Postseason | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Year | G | W | L | OTL | Pts | Finish | W | L | Win% | Result |
| EDM | 2021-22 | 32 | 26 | 9 | 3 | 55 | 2nd in Pacific | 8 | 8 | .500 | Lost in Conference Finals (COL) |
| EDM | 2022-23 | 82 | 50 | 23 | 9 | 109 | 2nd in Pacific | 6 | 6 | .500 | Lost in Semifinals (VGK) |
| EDM | 2023-24 | 13 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 7 | Fired | — | — | — | — |
| TOTAL | 133 | 79 | 41 | 13 | 14 | 14 | .500 | 2 POSTSEASON APPEARANCES | |||
If only to be a fly on the wall during these interviews with the candidates and to hear the conversations inside Blue Jackets headquarters.
It seems it'll come down to one of either Evason or Woodcroft but until it's decided, maybe the McLellan carrot is still in play?
It's anyone's guess when it comes to the Blue Jackets.
Who is your preference?
