Columbus Blue Jackets fire coach Pascal Vincent after one season
The Columbus Blue Jackets have fired coach Pascal Vincent after one season running the team's bench.
Blue Jackets president of hockey operations and general manager Don Waddell announced the move Monday with "no further decisions regarding the club's coaching staff."
The search for a new head coach, the 11th in the history of the team, "will begin immediately."
“As I spent time with Pascal over the past few weeks, I found him to be an outstanding person and smart hockey coach who worked very hard last year under trying circumstances, but I believe a change behind the bench is in our team’s best interest,” Waddell said in a statement. “On behalf of the organization I want to thank Pascal for his work ethic, professionalism and contributions during his three seasons with the Blue Jackets.”
Under Vincent, who was named the team's 10th head coach after Mike Babcock resigned before the season due to alleged violations of players' privacy, the Blue Jackets finished 27-43-12 and in last place in the Eastern Conference.
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Before the 2023-24 season, Vincent signed a two-year deal with the Blue Jackets. He joined the team as an associate coach in 2021.
"Do I want to be here? Yeah, I want to be here bad," Vincent said after the 2023-24 season. "And getting to know the players, what they need, what we think we need as an organization, where they are at in their career, building those relationships, that's investment. And when you really care about something, you invest all of yourself. I didn't fall short of that. I invested everything I got. And I am still going to do it until the day I am being told, 'No. Don't show up to the rink tomorrow.' Hopefully that comes in many, many years."
NHL coaching carousel
Vincent's firing creates an NHL coach opening after all the previous positions had been filled. Here's who was hired this offseason:
Buffalo Sabres: Lindy Ruff
Los Angeles Kings: Jim Hiller (interim tag removed)
New Jersey Devils: Sheldon Keefe
Ottawa Senators: Travis Green
St. Louis Blues: Drew Bannister (interim tag removed)
San Jose Sharks: Ryan Warsofsky
Seattle Kraken: Dan Bylsma
Toronto Maple Leafs: Craig Berube
Winnipeg Jets: Scott Arniel
Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour agreed to a multi-year extension.