Overview
- GM Don Waddell also dismissed assistant coach Steve McCarthy, citing underperformance and recurring late-game collapses.
- Rick Bowness, 70, returns from retirement without an interim tag after 803 NHL games coached and a 2020 Stanley Cup Final appearance with Dallas.
- Bowness took over immediately, ran practice, and won his debut 5-3 against the Flames as Columbus sits 19-19-7 with 45 points, last in the East and seven points out.
- Waddell said the timing is designed to give the team a chance to surge with eight of the next 12 games at home before the break.
- Bowness stressed compete level, a pressure-first defensive approach, and better puck management to fix one of the league’s worst goals-against records.