Columbus Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness is stepping away from his day-to-day duties because of health concerns, general manager Don Waddell said Saturday.
Bowness, 71, missed Thursday’s 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning after being described by the club as “under the weather.” He also was absent from Friday’s practice as Columbus prepared for Saturday’s home game against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Assistant coach Don Granato, who took over Bowness’ responsibilities on Thursday, will continue in that role indefinitely. Waddell said Bowness will not travel with the team Monday while he goes through additional testing, though a return to the trip remains possible depending on the results.
“(Bowness) was here actually this morning. That’s a good sign.
He was here for a little bit with the coaches. Until we know more, he’s listed like a player, day to day,” Waddell said.
This is the second time in the last four seasons that Bowness has stepped aside for a medical reason. In March 2024, while coaching the Winnipeg Jets, he missed four games after a “minor medical procedure.” Earlier that same season, he was away from the team for a month after his wife, Judy, suffered a seizure.
Bowness’ time in Columbus has already been a turbulent one.
He took over last January after Dean Evason was fired, and the Blue Jackets caught fire almost immediately. A 19-3-4 surge lifted them to fifth in the Eastern Conference and second in the Metropolitan Division, trailing only eventual Stanley Cup champion Carolina.
That run even put Bowness in the conversation for the Jack Adams Trophy, despite the fact that he had been behind the bench for less than half a season. But Columbus closed with a 2-8-1 stretch, slipped out of the playoff picture and missed the postseason for the sixth straight year.
Bowness was clearly upset by the way the season ended, especially after the team’s flat finish in a season-ending loss to Washington. Afterward, he criticized the players’ desire to win and said he would work to change the culture in the room. He later signed a one-year deal to return.
So far, the response has not been what the Blue Jackets hoped for. The losing that derailed last season has carried over, and Columbus entered Saturday at 7-10-0 with three straight losses. The Blue Jackets have only two regulation wins this season, tied with San Jose and ahead of only Vancouver, which has one.
Bowness has coached 857 NHL games, starting with the Winnipeg Jets in 1989. His head-coaching stops also include the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders, Phoenix Coyotes, Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets.
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