Rick Bowness Takes Over as Columbus Blue Jackets Head Coach
Rick Bowness was relaxing on his boat in Florida when his phone rang on Monday afternoon. The call came from Don Waddell, the president of hockey operations and general manager for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Bowness initially thought the conversation might be about a player he had coached in the past.
To his surprise, Waddell offered him the head coaching position for the Blue Jackets. Bowness accepted the offer without hesitation. By Tuesday morning, he was already on the ice at Nationwide Arena, leading practice sessions. His first game as head coach is scheduled for Tuesday night, when the Blue Jackets host the Calgary Flames.
A Sudden Return to the NHL Bench
This appointment marks Bowness's return to coaching in the National Hockey League. He had retired in the spring of 2024 after a two-year stint with the Winnipeg Jets. At the time, Bowness cited health concerns for both himself and his wife, Judy, as reasons for stepping down.
Now, at 70 years old, Bowness becomes the oldest active head coach in the league. He will turn 71 on January 25. Despite his age, he feels fully prepared and rejuvenated for this new challenge. "I feel a whole lot better. Judy's doing great, and so that opened the door again," Bowness said. "I did want to coach again."
Replacing Dean Evason and Team Challenges
Bowness takes over from Dean Evason, who was fired in his second year with the team. Evason became the first NHL coach to be dismissed this season. Assistant coach Steve McCarthy was also let go. The Blue Jackets are currently last in the Eastern Conference with a record of 19 wins, 19 losses, and 7 ties.
They trail the playoff spot by seven points with only 12 games remaining until the Olympic break. Last season, the team showed promise, finishing just two points away from a playoff berth. This effort came after the tragic death of star forward Johnny Gaudreau in August 2024. Evason was considered a strong candidate for Coach of the Year during that emotional period.
Team captain Boone Jenner described the coaching change as a wake-up call. "For us, a bit of a shock, a wake-up call that we can use and hopefully use in the right way," Jenner stated.
Bowness's Coaching Philosophy and Goals
Bowness is the 14th head coach in the 25-season history of the Columbus Blue Jackets. His immediate goal is to guide the team to the playoffs for the first time since the 2019-20 season. He emphasizes a strong defensive strategy as key to achieving this.
"You don't score your way into the playoffs. This isn't the '80s, man," Bowness remarked. He plans to address issues like poor third-period performances, odd-man rushes, and shooting chances in the slot. The team also struggles with penalty killing, ranking fourth-worst in the league.
Bowness promises to be direct and focused. "I'm going to say whatever has to be done. I'm not a 30-year-old coach worrying about my career. I'm at the end of my career," he explained.
Reactions from Players and Management
Don Waddell explained that recent poor performances led to the coaching change. The team blew a three-goal lead in a loss to Pittsburgh on January 4, followed by a disappointing road trip. "I have all the respect in the world for Dean and Steve. I think last year they did a tremendous job in very difficult situations," Waddell said. "But again, I think our expectations this year were higher than what we're achieving right now."
Sean Monahan, who played under Bowness in Winnipeg, expressed surprise at the move but praised his former coach. "He can be hard on guys. He's vocal. He's fun to play for because he's motivated to be out there to coach to get the two points every night," Monahan said. "He's done it a long time, and he's had a lot of success at it. So, you've got a lot of respect for a guy like that."
Bowness brings extensive experience, having coached teams like Boston, Ottawa, the New York Islanders, Phoenix, Dallas, and both versions of the Winnipeg Jets. He led the Dallas Stars to the Stanley Cup Final in 2020 during the pandemic bubble.
