The Columbus Blue Jackets are making a change on the coaching bench. Head coach Dean Evason and assistant coach Steve McCarthy are fired. Replacing does Rick Bowness. The club announced this on Monday.
– It has been a frustrating season for us and we are simply not performing at the level we expect. We all have a responsibility in that, myself included, and while this was not an easy decision, it was a decision that needed to be made right now,” said club general manager Don Waddell.
Bowness, 70, was the head coach of the Winnipeg Jets from 2022-23, leading the club to two straight playoff appearances. He has not coached since. Before that, he spent a little more than two seasons with the Dallas Stars (2019-22). He took over as interim coach in December 2019 and led the club to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final (2-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning).
– Rick is an exceptionally good coach with considerable experience and knowledge. He will contribute stability to our team at an important time in our season. He is a good communicator and his teams have played with structure, are solid defensively and we believe he is the right man to bring out the best in our group, says Waddell.
Evason has coached the Jets, Stars, Phoenix Coyotes, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators and Boston Bruins at the NHL level.
– 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, says Bowness.
Evason, 61, was in his second season with the Blue Jackets, who currently sit last in the Eastern Conference.
