Wild won't interview coaching candidates during NHL's pause

If the NHL ends up resuming its season, Dean Evason's job as the Minnesota Wild's interim head coach is safe.

General manager Bill Guerin said Wednesday he won't interview coaching candidates during the NHL's pause.

"Other people can do what they want, but to me personally, it doesn't seem the time or place to do that," Guerin said, according to NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. "If we come back (this season), hopefully we do, we already went through one coaching change. I want to give the guys the consistency of Dean's thoughts and give Dean that opportunity, too. And I'm very happy with him."

In his first season on the job, Guerin fired head coach Bruce Boudreau despite the fact the team was 7-3-1 in its previous 11 games. In total, the club was 27-23-7 at the time Boudreau was fired, sitting three points out of a playoff spot. The Wild were 8-4-0 under Evason.

"He's done a great job and the guys have responded well," Guerin said. "He's got good communication with the players. He's got an ability to see it as a former player. I like the passion that he brings, but also the detail in the game that he brings. Dean's a good coach."

Guerin will evaluate Evason's future after the season is complete, whenever that may be.

"I'm going to figure (it) out afterward," he said.

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