Dean Evason Fired as Blue Jackets HC After 1-Plus NHL Seasons, Replacement Named

Dean Evason did not make it a full two seasons as the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Columbus announced Monday it fired Evason and assistant coach Steve McCarthy and named Rick Bowness as the new head coach. This was Evason's second season as the head coach of the Blue Jackets, and the team decided to move on just 45 games into the campaign.

"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," general manager Don Waddell said in a statement. "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.

"Dean did a tremendous job last year under extremely difficult circumstances and I thank him for that. I also want to thank Steve for his commitment to our club over the past five years."

Coaching changes are nothing new for the Blue Jackets of late.

Brad Larsen was the head coach for just two seasons before he was fired, and Mike Babcock resigned before even coaching a game ahead of the 2023-24 campaign. Pascal Vincent ended up coaching that season, but that was his only one before he was fired.

The team then hired Evason ahead of the 2024-25 season but wasted little time moving on from him as well.

While Columbus made the playoffs four years in a row under John Tortorella from 2016 through 2020, it hasn't returned to the postseason since. That streak didn't look like it was about to change this season, as it is tied for the fewest points in the Eastern Conference with 45, thanks to a 19-19-7 record.

It is a step back from last season when the team fell just short on a late playoff push on the way to a 40-33-9 record.

Third periods have largely been the problem in 2025-26.

Aaron Portzline of The Athletic noted the Blue Jackets have outscored opponents by a total of five goals in the first two periods this season but are an ugly minus-24 in the third period. That is the worst mark in the NHL and a major reason the team has struggled in the standings.

"For some reason, it comes down to those third periods, and for some reason, a two-goal lead heading into the third period? It's not good for us," Waddell said, per Portzline. "The results aren't good for us."

That much was clear Monday, as the Blue Jackets decided to move in a different direction as they attempt to salvage their season and perhaps protect more leads in the third period.

And they will do so under Bowness, who most recently coached the Winnipeg Jets in 2023-24 and led the Dallas Stars to the Stanley Cup Final as an interim coach in 2020.