The Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday fired head coach Dean Evason and assistant coach Steve McCarthy amid a season of struggle.
Columbus, in the press release announcing the move, also said it had hired Rick Bowness as the club's head coach, president of hockey operations and general manager Don Waddell announced.
"This season has been a frustrating one for all of us and the bottom line is we are not performing at a level that meets our expectations," Waddell said. "We all share in that responsibility, me included, and while this was not a decision that was made lightly it is one that needed to be made at this time."
The Blue Jackets are in last place in the Metropolitan Division with 45 points.
"Dean did a tremendous job last year under extremely difficult circumstances," Waddell said, referring to a 2024-25 season that began months after the Blue Jackets tragically lost star forward Johnny Gaudreau. "And I thank him for that."
Bowness, 70, most recently served as coach of the Winnipeg Jets from 2022-24. He spent the previous two-plus seasons with the Dallas Stars, leading them to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final, where they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
