Overview
- Columbus also dismissed assistant coach Steve McCarthy and installed Bowness with no interim tag.
- The Blue Jackets are 19-19-7 with 45 points, sitting last in the Eastern Conference and seven points back of a wild card.
- Bowness debuts at home Tuesday against Calgary, beginning a home-heavy stretch that management hopes jump-starts results.
- GM Don Waddell cited unacceptable performance and sought structure after defensive struggles and repeated third-period collapses.
- The veteran coach most recently led Winnipeg (2022-24) and previously guided Dallas to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final before retiring in 2024.