Apparently, Columbus Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness didn’t view his team’s season finale as a meaningless game.
Despite the fact that the Blue Jackets were eliminated from playoff contention earlier this week, the veteran coach tore a strip off his players after the team’s 2-1 loss to the visiting Washington Capitals on Tuesday.
“All you gotta do is look at the stat sheet. Three hits, 23 giveaways. I don’t know if I’m back, but if I’m back, I’m changing this culture,” Bowness told reporters afterward, per Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers. “These guys, they don’t care. Losing is not important enough to them. It doesn’t bother them.”
Bowness replaced Dean Evason as coach in mid-January and guided the Blue Jackets back into the playoff hunt, only for the team to fall short down the stretch.
It marks the sixth year in a row the Blue Jackets will miss the playoffs.
The Blue Jackets and Capitals both were out of the playoff hunt prior to Tuesday’s game, making it a very low-stakes contest.
That didn’t seem to matter to Bowness, who made headlines in his last job when he ripped the effort of Winnipeg Jets players following a playoff series loss in 2023.
On Tuesday, Bowness let his Columbus players know what he thought in his meeting with the media.
“Like, how can you go out and play like that?” he said, per Scheig. “Should have done this about 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. Losing, you have to hate losing. I don’t care if it’s a meaningless game.”
Bowness also said he felt bad for the fans.
“Play with some pride. We have got great fans here. They deserve better than that. Love the fanbase, love the enthusiasm, love the city. They got a lot of good things going here. We’re not putting up with that.”
Bowness promised he’d change things if he’s back next season.
“I’ve been around long enough to know I’ll find ways,” he said. “I’ve had enough experience. We can deal with this. I’ve dealt with it before. If I’m back, we’ll straighten it out.”
