Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness did not hide his anger towards his team following a 2-1 home loss to the Washington Capitals to close the 2025-26 season on Tuesday.
“These guys, they don’t care. Losing is not important enough to them. It doesn’t bother them. How can you go out and play like that? I should have done this a month ago. But this is why we are where we are,” an exasperated Bowness remarked. “This is why we’re out of the playoffs. That kind of effort. You have to hate losing. I don’t care if it’s a meaningless game. I don’t care. Show up and compete.”
Columbus finished with a 40-30-12 record for fifth place in the Metropolitan Division, five points behind the Ottawa Senators for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Jackets went 2-7-1 over their last 10 games to miss the playoffs for the sixth straight season. Columbus also lost their last six home games.
Bowness noted the Blue Jackets had only three hits and 23 giveaways in the loss.
Rick Bowness furious following the 2-1 loss to Washington.
— Joe Nugent (@joenuge) April 15, 2026
The Blue Jackets finish the season losing six straight at home, barely missing the playoffs, more tonight @nbc4i #CBJ pic.twitter.com/o7We2CEmTY
The 71-year-old Bowness came out of retirement in January to replace Dean Evason, who was fired after 45 games with a 19-19-7 record.
Bowness, who went 21-11-5 over the final 37 games, admitted he wasn’t sure if he would be back next year, but said things will be different if he returns.
“Like, I don’t know if I’m back [next season], but if I’m back, I’m changing this culture,” he said.
Bowness last coached the Winnipeg Jets for two seasons before retiring in 2024.
