The Columbus Blue Jackets fired head coach Dean Evason on Monday and quickly hired his replacement, Rick Bowness.
The mid-season coaching change comes as the Blue Jackets hold the worst record in the Eastern Conference at 19 wins and 19 losses and 7 ties. Evason was in his second season with the team, while Bowness retired in 2024 after coaching the Winnepeg Jets.
Bowness led the Dallas Stars to a Stanley Cup in 2020 and had stints as head coach and assistant coach with several other teams including the Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins.
Blue Jackets General Manager Don Waddell held a press conference on Tuesday to introduce Bowness to the media. Waddell said Evason was put in a tough situation, but the team had higher expectations this season.
"We've had meltdowns in the third period, double-digit meltdowns," Waddell said. "And you look at the last two games that we played here at home when we lost to Pittsburgh. We were up by three. We've lost the divisional rivals, too."
Bowness retired in 2024 after decades coaching the Winnipeg Jets, Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins and other teams. Bowness said he thinks he can help the Jackets.
Bowness said he thinks he can help the Jackets find success again.
"When I look at the roster, and I did see a few of their games during the year, I always looked at that team and said 'I think I could help that team. They're better than their record shows,'" Bowness said.
Bowness said he would have only come out of retirement for a few teams, and the Blue Jackets is one of them.
Bowness said he originally retired because of health issues involving himself and his wife, Judy. He said those issues have been addressed.
The Blue Jackets will play their first game under Bowness at 7 p.m. Tuesday against the Calgary Flames.
