The Columbus Blue Jackets made waves earlier this season by becoming the first NHL team to change their head coach, parting ways with Dean Evason. Stepping in as interim head coach is the seasoned Rick Bowness, who has since led the team to an impressive 16-2-4 record. This remarkable turnaround has catapulted the Blue Jackets into a fierce battle for a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, sitting just a point shy of the Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings.
It's been six long years since Columbus last tasted the Stanley Cup playoffs. Back then, they were ousted in the first round by the Tampa Bay Lightning, a team they had famously defeated the previous year.
The Blue Jackets' playoff runs from 2017 to 2020 were also Wild Card-dependent, never exceeding 50 wins in a season. Now, under Bowness' guidance, they're leaning on a top-three defense in goals allowed, aiming for a Wild Card berth with a projected 42-win season.
The resurgence under Bowness has been a delightful surprise, sparking conversations about his future with the team. However, both Bowness and GM Don Waddell seem unfazed by the long-term implications, focusing instead on the immediate task at hand.
Bowness' return to coaching is a compelling story. After announcing his retirement in May 2024, following the Winnipeg Jets' playoff exit, he stepped away from one of the longest coaching careers in NHL history.
His journey began in 1982 as an assistant with Winnipeg, shortly after his playing days ended, and spanned 36 of the next 40 seasons, including an unbroken stretch from 1999 to 2024. At 71, Bowness is the last active head coach from the 1980s era.
The Blue Jackets are now benefiting from a wealth of experience, with Waddell also having roots in hockey management dating back to the 1980s. Their shared history and understanding of the game mean they're not rushing decisions about Bowness' future, keeping their eyes on the crucial games ahead.
Once the season wraps, the pivotal question will be whether Bowness chooses to return to retirement or continue as the league's oldest head coach. For now, Columbus is riding the wave of their resurgence, hopeful for a playoff spot after years of challenges.