Columbus Blue Jackets Fire Dean Evason, Hire Rick Bowness
The Columbus Blue Jackets made a dramatic coaching change Monday, firing head coach Dean Evason and assistant coach Steve McCarthy after a frustrating season that has left the team struggling to compete. The organization immediately named veteran coach Rick Bowness as Evason’s replacement, hoping the experienced leader can spark a turnaround.
The Blue Jackets announced the move after the team posted a 19-19-7 record, putting them in last place in the Metropolitan Division with 45 points. General Manager Don Waddell acknowledged the difficult decision but said performance demands action.
“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,” Waddell said in a statement. “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.”
Evason’s Tenure Ends After 127 Games
Dean Evason led the blue jackets to a 59-52-16 record across 127 games since joining the organization on July 22, 2024. Waddell credited Evason’s work last season, when the team posted a 40-33-9 mark under extremely difficult circumstances, including the tragic loss of star forward Johnny Gaudreau months before the 2024-25 campaign began.
“Dean did a tremendous job last year under extremely difficult circumstances and I thank him for that,” Waddell said. “I also want to thank Steve for his commitment to our club over the past five years.”
Rick Bowness Brings Stanley Cup Experience
Rick Bowness, 70, arrives with one of the most decorated résumés in coaching. Most recently, he served as head coach of the Winnipeg Jets from 2022 to 2024, compiling a 98-57-9 record and leading the team to back-to-back playoff appearances.
Bowness’ most notable achievement came during his time with the Dallas Stars, where he led the club to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final after being named interim head coach in December 2019. Though Dallas fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games, the accomplishment demonstrated Bowness’ ability to elevate a roster and compete for championships.
Over his NHL career spanning multiple decades, Bowness has compiled a 310-408-48-37 record as head or interim head coach across eight organizations, including stints with the Boston Bruins, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, Phoenix Coyotes, Vancouver Canucks, and Tampa Bay Lightning.
What Bowness Brings to Columbus
Waddell expressed confidence in Bowness’s ability to stabilize the blue jackets and extract more from the current roster. “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.”
Bowness embraced the opportunity and the challenge ahead. “I appreciate the opportunity to come to Columbus because it is a good organization with good people and this is a team that I think I can help improve,” Bowness said. “I’m thankful to Don and Mike Priest and I’m really excited to work with our players and coaching staff to help get us where we want to go.”
Immediate Test Ahead
The columbus blue jackets return to action Tuesday night, hosting the Calgary Flames at Nationwide Arena at 7 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network, with coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET.
