Overview
- President and GM Don Waddell said the move was necessary because the team is not meeting expectations this season.
- Assistant coach Steve McCarthy was also dismissed as part of the staff changes, and Bowness arrives without an interim tag.
- Columbus sits 19-19-7 with 45 points, tied for last in the Eastern Conference and seven points out of a playoff spot.
- Bowness returns after retiring in 2024, bringing decades of experience that includes leading Dallas to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final and most recently coaching Winnipeg.
- Performance issues cited in coverage include high goals against, a weak penalty kill, and league-worst third-period results, with Bowness set to debut Tuesday vs. Calgary.