Columbus Turns to Rick Bowness to Reignite Young Core and Reset the Culture
COLUMBUS, Ohio - If there’s one thing the Columbus Blue Jackets have lacked in recent years, it’s stability behind the bench. And for a group of promising young players trying to find their way in the NHL, that’s been a serious hurdle.
Let’s put it in perspective: Kent Johnson, 23, and Cole Sillinger, 22, are already on their fifth NHL head coach - and they haven’t even finished their fifth season. Adam Fantilli, 21, is working with his fourth. That kind of turnover isn’t just rare - it’s borderline chaotic for a team trying to build a foundation around its youth.
Enter Rick Bowness.
The veteran bench boss, who officially took over earlier this week after Dean Evason was let go, brings 40-plus years of NHL coaching experience and a reputation as one of the league’s best communicators. At 70, he’s old enough to be these players’ grandfather - something he joked about during his introductory press conference. (And yes, he actually coached Sillinger’s dad, Mike, back in 2003-04 with the Coyotes.)
But this hire isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about structure.
It’s about communication. And most of all, it’s about giving Columbus’ young core the kind of consistent, transparent leadership they’ve been missing.
Fantilli: “He Tells You What He Wants - That’s Huge”
Just a few days into Bowness’ tenure, there’s already a noticeable shift. Fantilli, who’s seen more head coaches than playoff games in his young career, didn’t hold back when asked about the early vibe under Bowness.
“He’s very vocal on the bench, which I love,” Fantilli said. “You know exactly what he’s thinking, what he wants from you.
That’s something I’ve always respected from a coach - when he tells you what he wants and what he expects. And he’s been pretty clear.”
That clarity is already translating into changes in how the team operates day-to-day. Bowness moved pre-practice meetings from the dressing room to the video room - a more focused, theater-style setup where players sit shoulder-to-shoulder and stay locked in on the film.
Fantilli’s reaction? “Oh, 100 percent,” he said with a grin. “That’s not something I’ve had a ton of with head coaches during my time here, so it’s exciting.”
A Coaching Carousel That Needed to Stop
The Blue Jackets’ recent coaching history reads like a cautionary tale. In 2023, the team hired Mike Babcock despite well-documented concerns about his methods in previous stops. That experiment didn’t even make it to training camp - Babcock was fired after reports surfaced that he had asked players to show him private photos from their phones during offseason meetings.
Pascal Vincent stepped in on short notice, but struggled to connect with the room. One of the biggest knocks?
A lack of direct communication with players - especially the younger ones. Dean Evason brought some early success, even finishing fifth in Jack Adams voting after his first season.
But by year two, the energy was gone, and so was he.
Now, Bowness is tasked with steadying the ship - and maybe even steering it toward a playoff push. After a 5-3 win over Calgary earlier this week, the Jackets climbed out of last place in the Eastern Conference for the first time since December 22. It’s a small step, but a meaningful one.
Bowness’ Blueprint: Communicate, Connect, Compete
Bowness made it clear from day one: he plans to spend time with every player, especially the young core that represents the future of this franchise.
“We’re gonna spend a lot of time with them, work with them, do a little video with them, talk to them, get to know them,” Bowness said. “I have to know what makes them tick.”
That kind of hands-on approach is already impacting ice time and roles - particularly for Johnson and Fantilli.
Johnson logged a season-high 20:55 in the win over Calgary, skating alongside Sean Monahan and Boone Jenner. He didn’t register a point, but his defensive pressure created the turnover that led to Jenner’s game-winner with just 1:34 left on the clock. It’s the kind of all-around play coaches love - and the kind of moment that earns trust.
Under Evason, Johnson had seen his role shrink. He was averaging just 13:38 per game - a drop of more than three and a half minutes compared to last season, when he put up 57 points in 68 games.
At one point, even AHL call-up Luca Pinelli was seeing more ice time. That’s not the case anymore.
“We’re all excited,” Johnson said. “(Bowness) really grabbed the room today. You guys saw it on the ice.”
Fantilli Hungry for More - and Bowness Might Deliver
Fantilli played 20:17 against Calgary - his highest total this month - and it sounds like he’s ready to take on even more. He’s currently riding a 13-game goal drought, tied for the longest of his career, but he’s not shying away from the challenge.
“That’s the number (20 minutes) I want to get to all the time,” Fantilli said. “I’m conditioned enough to play that amount and in the style Bones has us playing.
It’s very fast and it cuts down on shift lengths. You go hard, you get off, and he gets us right back out there.”
There could be more responsibility coming, too. Bowness has hinted at using Fantilli on the penalty kill - something that hasn’t been a regular part of his role so far. He’s averaged just 11 seconds per game on the PK, but that could change if Bowness sees the two-way potential.
And in overtime? Fantilli’s already getting the nod as one of the first forwards over the boards. That’s a sign of trust - and a sign that Bowness sees him as more than just a young scorer trying to find his touch.
What’s Next: Vancouver Comes to Town
The Jackets won’t have long to bask in the glow of their latest win. Next up is a home matchup against the Vancouver Canucks, a team currently mired in an eight-game winless streak (0-6-2) and searching for answers of their own. Their last regulation win came back on December 19.
For Columbus, it’s a chance to build momentum - and for Bowness, it’s another opportunity to embed his system, his standards, and his voice into a team that’s been craving direction.
The message is clear: the Blue Jackets are done spinning their wheels. With Rick Bowness behind the bench and a young core ready to be coached, the second half of the season just got a whole lot more interesting in Columbus.