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Columbus Blue Jackets Extend Head Coach Rick Bowness Through 2026-27 Season

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Blue Jackets Extend Head Coach Rick Bowness Through 2026-27 Season

The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed head coach Rick Bowness to a contract extension that will keep him with the National Hockey League club through the 2026-27 season. The announcement was made by the team's President of Hockey Operations and General Manager, Don Waddell.

"Rick has done an outstanding job since his arrival and it was obvious to all of us that he is the right person to lead our club as head coach."
— Don Waddell, Blue Jackets President of Hockey Operations and GM

Coaching Performance with Columbus

Rick Bowness, 71, was hired by the Blue Jackets on January 12, 2025, replacing former head coach Dean Evason. In his 37 games behind the bench to conclude the season, the team compiled a record of 21 wins, 11 losses, and 5 overtime losses, resulting in a .635 points percentage.

A Four-Decade Coaching Career

Rick Bowness has an extensive coaching career spanning over four decades.

NHL Head Coaching Record: 331 wins, 419 losses, 48 ties, and 42 overtime losses in 840 career games.

Recent Success: Since the 2019-20 season, his record is 208 wins, 130 losses, and 39 overtime losses in 377 games.

Teams Coached: He has served as a head or interim head coach for eight NHL franchises: the Columbus Blue Jackets, Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars, Phoenix Coyotes, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, and Boston Bruins.

Notable Recent Tenures

  • Winnipeg Jets (2022-2024): Compiled a 98-57-9 record over 164 games, leading the team to two Stanley Cup Playoff appearances.
  • Dallas Stars (2019-2022): Compiled an 89-62-25 record over 176 games. He was named interim head coach in December 2019 and led the team to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final.

Official Statement from Rick Bowness

"I have really enjoyed my time with this organization and absolutely love being part of it and working with these players. We're all very disappointed by how our season ended and we have a lot of work to do, but we will do what's necessary to be the type of team we want to be and that our great fans expect us to be."

Bowness added that he is excited to continue the work started in Columbus and appreciates the confidence shown in him by the team's leadership and ownership.