Blue Jackets hand coach Rick Bowness a contract extension following passionate rant

Blue Jackets hand coach Rick Bowness a contract extension following passionate rant originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have inked head coach Rick Bowness to a contract extension, and he will be back behind the bench for the 2026-27 campaign.

After finishing the passing season as the bench boss of the Blue Jackets, GM Don Waddel announced on Thursday that Bowness is returning on a one-year contract.

The 71-year-old coach was brought in to replace Dean Evason in January. Since coming in, Bowness coached Columbus for 37 games and mustered up quite a record in his short stint.

In those 37 outings to end the campaign, the Blue Jackets registered a 21-11-5 mark. In fact, since Bowness’ first game behind Columbus’ bench on Jan. 13, the Blue Jackets have been a top-10 team in the NHL.

Columbus was last in the Eastern Conference when Bowness arrived, but his presence and influence behind the bench lifted his team into the playoff race during March and April.

Despite an incredible run with Bowness behind the bench, including a seven-game winning streak not long after he came in, the Blue Jackets ended the year on a sour note.

MORE: Blue Jackets Coach Rick Bowness Rips Into Team After Season Finale

In the final 11 games of the regular season, Columbus was actually the second-worst team in the NHL; only the Toronto Maple Leafs were worse. The Blue Jackets registered an 8-11-2 record to close out their playoff push, and Bowness voiced his displeasure after their last game of the season on Tuesday.

Their season finale ended in a 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals, followed by an angry, passionate media availability from Bowness. He called out the team’s effort and lack of care in the final game of the season.