The Columbus Blue Jackets are staying true to character.
Following a disappointing first half to the season that is seen the group fall to final within the Metropolitan division, possession fired second-year head coach Dean Evason and employed Rick Bowness, 70, as his substitute.
Bowness is the franchise’s fifth teaching rent and sixth coach in six seasons, becoming a member of Evason (2024-26), Pascal Vincent (2023-24), Brad Larsen (2021-23), John Tortorella (2020-21) and Mike Babcock, who was fired before his first season began in 2023.
Revolving door at head coach solely a foul factor for Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets (19-19-7, sixteenth in Jap Convention) entered 2025-26 with elevated expectations after a fourth-place division end in 2024-25, snapping back-to-back last-place marks the 2 earlier years. However Columbus has reverted to kind this 12 months after an honest begin, going 6-10-2 over their previous 18 video games since Dec. 6. Throughout that stretch, the Blue Jackets have allowed the league’s third-most targets (63), forward of solely the Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks. (h/t Stathead)
Bowness is a longtime teaching veteran with 14 years of expertise as an NHL head coach relationship again to 1988-89. He led the Dallas Stars to the Stanley Cup Last in the course of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and most not too long ago coached the Winnipeg Jets for 2 seasons, going 98-57-6 with two playoff appearances, each ending in first-round exits.
Whereas definitely a gifted coach, at 70, he is additionally on the tail finish of his profession, which means it will not be lengthy earlier than Columbus is as soon as once more trying to find a head coach.
Since being based in 2000, the Blue Jackets have solely six postseason appearances. Longtime proprietor John P. McConnell is seen as one of many worst within the sport, rating No. 28 in The Athletic’s 2025 NHL owner survey, together with thirty first in organizational stability.
Whereas the group has underperformed in Evason’s second season, the job he did in almost getting it to the playoffs in his first 12 months — the Blue Jackets completed with 89 factors, two shy of the postseason and effectively above their projected total earlier than the season (65.5) — ought to have been sufficient to earn rather more safety.
However Columbus has by no means been the mannequin of consistency. Why begin now?
