It's time for change(s) in Columbus.
On Monday afternoon, the Columbus Blue Jackets fired head coach Dean Evason and assistant coach Steve McCarthy. Veteran NHL coach Rick Bowness has been named the club's new head coach.
Evason, 61, was named head coach in July 2024, a few months prior to the 2024-25 season. He helped navigate the Blue Jackets through turbulent times, including the devastating loss of Johnny Gaudreau, and nearly got the team to the playoffs in his first season.
With the Blue Jackets shouldering higher expectations and sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, GM Don Waddell decided that Evason's time was up. Bowness will be behind the bench on Tuesday night when the Blue Jackets host the Calgary Flames at Nationwide Arena.
“This season has been a frustrating one for all of us and the bottom line is we are not performing at a level that meets our expectations. We all share in that responsibility, me included, and while this was not a decision that was made lightly it is one that needed to be made at this time,” Waddell said. “Dean did a tremendous job last year under extremely difficult circumstances and I thank him for that. I also want to thank Steve for his commitment to our club over the past five years.”
The 2025-26 season has been disappointing for the Blue Jackets, who are seeking their first postseason berth since 2019-20. With a record of 19-19-7 and 45 points, they are currently in the basement of the Eastern Conference despite an overtime win Sunday afternoon in Salt Lake City.
Bowness, 70, last coached the Winnipeg Jets from 2022-24, compiling a 98-57-9 record and guiding the team to back-to-back playoff appearances. He coached the Dallas Stars (89-62-25) from 2019-22. Bowness led the Stars to the Stanley Cup Final in 2020 after being named the interim head coach in December 2019. The Stars lost to the Lightning in six games in the Stanley Cup Final that year.
"Rick Bowness is a tremendous coach with invaluable experience and knowledge, and he will bring a steadiness to our team at an important juncture in our season," Waddell said. "He is a good communicator whose teams play with structure, are sound defensively and we believe he is the right person to bring out the best in our group."
This story will be updated.
