Blue Jackets’ Rick Bowness goes off on players after loss to Alex Ovechkin, Capitals

The Columbus Blue Jackets are out of the playoffs despite an incredible mid-season run in the race. When they fired Dean Evason, they were in last place in the Metropolitan Division with a 19-19-7 record. Rick Bowness took over, and the Blue Jackets immediately jumped into the playoff race. They went 19-3-4 in their first 26 games under Bowness, but hit the skids late to fall out of the playoffs. Bowness went off on his players’ effort in the final 11 games of the season.

“CBJ coach Rick Bowness just went on a post-game tirade for the ages. Ripped into players for their shameful effort tonight and down the stretch. He was red-faced and spitting mad,” The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline reported.

“Like, I don’t know if I’m back (next season), but if I’m back, I’ I’m changing this culture. These guys, they don’t care. Losing is not important enough to them. It doesn’t bother them. How can you go out and play like that? I should have done this a month ago. But this is why we are where we are. This is why we’re out of the playoffs. That kind of effort,” Bowness said, per Portzline.

The Blue Jackets do have a group of free agents they can let walk to change the culture. That includes captain Boone Jenner, who has played all 13 of his NHL seasons in Columbus. Charlie Coyle and Mason Marchment will also be free agents on July 1.

Bowness signed a contract that took him through the end of this season. So if general manager Don Waddell is not a fan of these comments, it will be the end of Bowness’s time in Columbus. But if he is seeing what the coach sees, it could be a tumultuous offseason in Columbus.

The Blue Jackets finish the season with 92 points, 47 of which came in 36 games under Bowness.

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