Minnesota Wild fire coach Bruce Boudreau
The Minnesota Wild have fired head coach Bruce Boudreau. He is the eighth NHL coach to lose his job this season.
The team announced the news Friday morning on Twitter and in a statement on the team website. The move comes after the Wild blew a two-goal lead Thursday night and lost in a shootout to the visiting New York Rangers.
"I would like to thank Bruce for his hard work and commitment to the Minnesota Wild during his tenure with the organization and wish him and his family the best in the future," said Wild General Manager Bill Guerin, who is in his first season with the team.
The coaching change matches the most for one season in NHL history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Boudreau is the sixth this season to be ousted for his team's performance. Minnesota is 27-23-7 and three points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference with 25 games left.
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Boudreau, 65, was in his fourth season with Minnesota after previously coaching the Anaheim Ducks and Washington Capitals. He went 158-110-35 in his time with the Wild.
Boudreau is in his 13th season after previously coaching the Washington Capitals and Anaheim Ducks. His team has made the playoffs in 10 of 12 full seasons, and his 567 wins rank 22nd all-time.
The Wild named assistant coach Dean Evason as interim head coach. He's in his second season with the Wild, after previously serving as head coach of the Milwaukee Admirals in the American Hockey League and an assistant coach with the NHL's Washington Capitals.
Evason is in his second season with the Wild after coaching the American Hockey League's Milwaukee Admirals the previous six years. He was an assistant under Boudreau for parts of five seasons in Washington.
Minnesota is 27-23-7 this season and is near the bottom of the NHL's Western Conference standings.