Columbus Blue Jackets fire coach Dean Evason, hire Rick Bowness to replace him

Rick Bowness is seen coaching for the Winnipeg Jets in an undated image (The Canadian Press)

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Blue Jackets fired coach Dean Evason and named Rick Bowness his replacement on Monday.

Evason is the first NHL coach fired this season. General manager Don Waddell announced the abrupt change with his team sitting in last place in the Eastern Conference 45 games in.

“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. “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. Dean did a tremendous job last year under extremely difficult circumstances and I thank him for that.”

Assistant Steve McCarthy was also fired. Bowness is back in the league after he retired in 2024, ending a stint with the Winnipeg Jets. Bowness, who coached Dallas to the Stanley Cup Final in the 2020 pandemic bubble, turns 71 on Jan. 25.

“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.”

Evason was just past the midway point of his second season in charge of the Blue Jackets. Waddell’s first order of business upon becoming GM was to fire then-coach Pascal Vincent and put Evason behind the bench.

The Associated Press