Columbus ran out of patience. The Blue Jackets decided to make a drastic change behind the bench and fired head coach Dean Evason and assistant Steve McCarthy in the middle of the season. Taking their place is Rick Bowness, a seasoned veteran who most recently led Winnipeg.
Evason thus became the first coach in the NHL to lose his job this year. Ironically, this came just a short time after Columbus snapped a four-game losing streak with an overtime win over Utah. However, the club’s management did not see it as a sign of a turnaround. The Blue Jackets are last in the Eastern Conference with a record of 19-19-7, and according to the internal evaluation, it is simply not enough.
General manager Don Waddell made it clear in his statement that the decision was not impulsive, but inevitable.
“It’s been a frustrating season for all of us and the fact is we’re not playing at a level that matches our expectations,” said Waddell. “We all share the responsibility, myself included. It wasn’t an easy decision, but it was necessary at this time. Dean did a huge job last season in very difficult circumstances and he deserves credit for that. I also thank Steve for five years of dedication to the club.”
The new man on the bench should mainly bring calmness and structure. Rick Bowness most recently managed the Winnipeg Jets, leading the team to the playoffs each time in two seasons and recording a record of 98 wins in 164 games. It is his experience that should be the key.
“Rick Bowness is an outstanding coach with a wealth of experience,” said Waddell. “He is a good communicator, his teams play structured, responsible defensively and we believe he can get the most out of this team.”
Seventy-year-old Bowness has more than 800 games in the NHL on the benches of Dallas, Arizona, Islanders, Ottawa, Boston and Winnipeg. In all, he has amassed over 300 victories and a reputation as a trainer who can stabilize chaos.
“I appreciate the opportunity to come to Columbus,” Bowness said. “It’s a good organization with good people and I believe I can help this team improve.”
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