Columbus Blue Jackets Fire Dean Evason and Steve McCarthy in Midseason Shake-Up

The Columbus Blue Jackets didn’t wait for the season to unravel any further. On Monday, the organization fired head coach Dean Evason and assistant coach Steve McCarthy, ending a tenure that never fully settled in after a promising start. President of Hockey Operations and general manager Don Waddell made the move official, signaling a clear shift in urgency for a team stuck at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings.

Evason Tenure In Columbus Was Mixed

Evason’s time with the Columbus Blue Jackets lasted 127 games, producing a 59‑52‑16 record after he was hired in July 2024. His first season included navigating the emotional fallout of Johnny Gaudreau’s death and keeping the Jackets competitive deep into the year. But this season’s inconsistency—particularly in the defensive zone—became impossible to ignore. McCarthy, who worked with the defense and coordinated the penalty kill, was also dismissed after five seasons with the club The Columbus Dispatch.

Don Waddell Explains the Decision

Waddell didn’t hold back when addressing the move. He pointed directly to performance and expectations, making it clear the organization needed a reset. Waddell said in the team’s announcement the following.

“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,… We all share in that responsibility, me included.”

The Columbus Blue Jackets sit in last place in the Eastern Conference, a position that made the coaching staff’s future increasingly uncertain as losses piled up.

Rick Bowness Takes Over Behind the Bench

Veteran coach Rick Bowness steps in immediately. The 70‑year‑old brings more than 2,600 NHL games of coaching experience and most recently led the Winnipeg Jets to a 98‑57‑9 record and back‑to‑back playoff appearances from 2022–24. He’ll make his Columbus Blue Jackets coaching debut Tuesday night against the Calgary Flames, per The Columbus Dispatch.

The message from the front office is unmistakable: expectations remain high, even in a season that has tested the franchise’s patience. With young talent, cap flexibility, and a veteran coach stepping in, the rest of the season becomes a test of how quickly the Jackets can stabilize under new leadership.