Ken Hitchcock Sent Packing, Claude Noel Succeeds Fired Blue Jackets Head Coach

Coming into the 2009-10 NHL season, Columbus Blue Jackets' general manager Scott Howson had high hopes for his team.

Unfortunately for Howson, his Blue Jackets have struggled all season long, going a paltry 22-27-9 through 58 games.

There are plenty of reasons for the Blue Jackets' collapse. Sure, goaltender Steve Mason has struggled in between the pipes this season, but the combination of owning the 20th overall offense and the 27th overall defense in the league was a team effort.

In the end, Howson felt the Blue Jackets' demise had more to do with head coach Ken Hitchcock than it did with the roster. He chose to fire his head coach today, ending Hitchcock’s three-year reign as the Blue Jackets' bench boss.

Hitchcock, who sported a 125-123-36 record with the Blue Jackets, missed the playoffs in 2006-07 and 2007-08 before leading Columbus to their first postseason appearance in 08-09.

The Blue Jackets went on to lose in the first round of the playoffs to the Detroit Red Wings, but the playoff berth had fans talking about the team and, for the first time, had people in NHL circles predicting a successful 2009-10 season.

Hitchcock, who by all accounts was well-liked by his players, will be replaced by Blue Jackets assistant coach Claude Noel. 

Noel spent several years in the ECHL before joining the Blue Jackets AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, in 1998. Noel served as the Admirals' assistant coach through 2002 before becoming their head coach in 2003. That season, the Admirals won the Calder Cup, the AHL’s version of Lord Stanley’s Cup. Noel was named AHL Coach of the Year for his efforts.

Noel was hired by Hitchcock following the 2006-2007 season and has been a valuable addition to the club.

Noel is expected to be behind the bench Thursday when the Blue Jackets host the Dallas Stars in Columbus.

For the most part, the Columbus players seem to be disappointed with the news. Many believe their effort on the ice, or lack thereof, was a factor in Hitchcock’s dismissal and, in the end, you have to think they feel partly responsible.

Clearly, Noel inherits a team that is in need of a shakeup. Hitchcock’s firing may very well be the first step in re-tooling this club with some roster moves.

Hopefully, Noel will succeed where Hitchcock failed. Something had to change in Columbus. Noel gives this team a fresh start and, perhaps, a new outlook on not only this season, but the future as well.

Until next time,

Peace!