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The Columbus Blue Jackets missed the playoffs for the sixth straight year thanks to a stunning late-season collapse that ended with a 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night.
The organization fell from second place in the Metropolitan Division last month to elimination in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday. Head coach Rick Bowness, who came out of retirement to take over in January, didn’t hold back when talking about his team when he spoke to reporters Tuesday night.
Head coach Rick Bowness of the Columbus Blue Jackets watches the game during an NHL game against the Carolina Hurricanes at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina on April 2, 2026. (Katherine Gawlik/Icon Sportswire)
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“All you have to 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,” he said bluntly. “These guys, they don’t care. Losing isn’t important enough to them. They don’t mind. How can you go out and play like that?”
“I should have done it about a month ago, but that’s why we’re here. That’s why we’re out of the playoffs. That kind of effort. You have to hate to lose. I don’t care if it’s a meaningless game. I don’t care. Just show up and compete.”
Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness leads his team from the bench against the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida on March 12, 2026. (Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)
Bowness replaced Dean Evason on January 12 with the Blue Jackets in last place in the Eastern Conference. But he quickly turned things around and Columbus went 18-2-4 in its first 24 games.
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The Blue Jackets found themselves in the playoffs, but as soon as things changed for the better, they went 3-9-1 and missed the playoffs for the sixth straight season.
“Some of these guys are so lucky that the season is over and there’s no practice tomorrow,” Bowness said, later adding, “Inexcusable. If they’re not embarrassed not only by tonight, but by this, they’re on the wrong team.”
Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness coaches against the New York Rangers during the second period at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY on March 2, 2026. (Brad Penner/Imagn Images)
“If I come back, we’re changing this damn culture.”
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