Dean Evason’s return to Xcel Energy Center was not a long time coming. The former Wild head coach, let go in late November after a 5-10-2 start, was in St. Paul on Thursday as head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets — opening night for both clubs.

What are the odds?

“It’s crazy, right?” Evason said after his team’s morning skate. “The game does that, for sure.”

Evason has lost neither his drive nor his sense of humor, joking with reporters about his conspicuous return.

“Didn’t you see the parade?” he said.

Evason’s tenure in Minnesota was characterized by success, four winning seasons before general manager Bill Guerin replaced him with John Hynes on Nov. 27. His 2021-22 team earned franchise records of 53 wins and 113 points, and the 2022-23 team’s 103 points rank third in team history. Those teams, however, were a combined 4-8 in the postseason.

In that, Evason is not alone. The Wild have advanced past the first round of the postseason only three times in 23 years, the last in 2015. He inherited a team in Columbus trying to improve on four straight losing seasons and, soon after his hire on July 22, to recover from the tragic loss of its best player.

Johnny Gaudreau, a left wing who had a team-high 60 points last season, was killed by a drunk driver on Aug. 29. His younger brother, Matthew, also was killed as the two rode their bicycles near their New Jersey hometown.

Evason had lunch with Johnny Gaudreau shortly after he was hired.

“At no point in our conversation, in the 2½ hours, did he mention wanting to play with this guy, wanting the power play to be this,” Evason said Thursday. “All he talked about was the team, how he felt that this team could win and have success and he wanted to be part of it, he’s all-in, didn’t care where he played or who he played with. He just wanted to play hockey and win in Columbus.”

The Wild will have a short pregame tribute to the Gaudreau’s before Thursday night’s game.

“Every team’s going to do something special for Johnny and Matthew, and we’re going to embrace it,” the coach said. “It’s not going to be a case where, ‘Oh, we’re doing another one.’ Of course we are. We’re honoring their lives and what they did, not only as hockey people but as human beings. And our guys have done a fantastic job of remembering Johnny and keeping him with us, his spirit and his love of the game.

“We are taking that with us into this first game and throughout the entire season, and, obviously, moving on.”

Moving on without the Wild was easier for Evason. He said returning was “amazing,” and that even the bus ride into St. Paul was full of good memories. But, he said, “I’ve been taught and my mother taught me a long time ago, it’s one day at a time.”

“I couldn’t do anything about it, so I didn’t dwell on it,” he added. “I think you guys know, the media that’s been here, I hold no grudge against Billy Guerin and the Minnesota Wild. Am I happy I got fired? No, of course. Did I think it’s wrong? Yeah, of course. But it’s not my decision. It was out of my hands. I coached the best to my abilities at that time and if it worked out, it worked out.

“So, to ask me when I moved on, it was immediate. Were we sad that we were going to have to leave a place that we really loved? Yeah, of course. You still have those emotions. But as far as looking forward to something else, it was almost immediate.”

Briefly

With defenseman Declan Chisholm out with an illness, the Wild recalled Daemon Hunt from Iowa and reassigned goaltender Jesper Wallstedt to Des Moines. Wallstedt still seems likely to start Sunday’s game in Winnipeg after Marc-Andre Fleury starts against Seattle on Saturday at X.