Rick Bowness on future: 'If I'm back, we're changing this culture'

Q: What did Rick Bowness say about the Blue Jackets' performance against the Capitals?

Rick Bowness criticized the team's lack of effort, mentioning only three hits and twenty-three giveaways during the game.

Q: Why did Rick Bowness feel the need to address the team's culture?

Bowness believes that the current culture contributes to the team's poor performance and stated that changes are necessary if he returns as coach.

Q: What was the Blue Jackets' record under Rick Bowness after taking over as coach?

The Blue Jackets finished with a 3-9-1 record under Rick Bowness after he took over on January 12.

Q: What specific issues did Bowness highlight in his postgame rant?

Bowness highlighted the team's lack of competitiveness, citing the minimal physical play and excessive turnovers as key issues.

After watching the Blue Jackets sputter to a 3-9-1 finish, Rick Bowness stopped biting his tongue after a lackluster 2-1 dud against the Washington Capitals on April 14 at Nationwide Arena.

More: Capitals down Blue Jackets for Ovechkin. Replay

The coach who took over Jan. 12 for Dean Evason, a guy who probably knows how Bowness is feeling, boiled over in a postgame rant that topped just about anything you’ll find from bitter Blue Jackets fans online. It was 3:42 of straight fire, as Bowness spit truths like he’d just said, "Hold my beer," to anguished members of The 5th Line.

“Should’ve done this about a month ago,” Bowness said, mid-rant. “But this is why we are where we are. This is why we’re out of the playoffs … that kind of effort. Losing ... you have to hate losing. I don’t care if it’s a meaningless game. I don’t … care. Show up and compete. Three hits! Twenty-three giveaways! What else you want to know?”

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) warms up prior to the NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on April 14, 2026.

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) warms up prior to the NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on April 14, 2026.

Fans watch Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) warm up prior to the NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on April 14, 2026.

Columbus Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner (38) and goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) joke around during warm ups prior to the NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on April 14, 2026.

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) takes the ice for the NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on April 14, 2026.

Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Mason Marchment (17) lines up for a faceoff during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on April 14, 2026.

Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Mason Marchment (17) shoots in front of Washington Capitals defenseman Dylan McIlrath (52) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on April 14, 2026.

Columbus Blue Jackets center Charlie Coyle (3) skates around Washington Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun (6) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on April 14, 2026.

A fans holds paper faces of Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on April 14, 2026.

Columbus Blue Jackets center Cole Sillinger (4) passes around Washington Capitals center Justin Sourdif (34) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on April 14, 2026.

Washington Capitals left wing Ivan Miroshnichenko (63) falls in front of Columbus Blue Jackets center Charlie Coyle (3) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on April 14, 2026.

A fan holds a sign for Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on April 14, 2026.

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Jet Greaves (73) saves a shot in front of defenseman Denton Mateychuk (5) during the first period of the NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on April 14, 2026.

Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Kirill Marchenko (86) skates around Washington Capitals right wing Anthony Beauvillier (72) during the first period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on April 14, 2026.

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Alex Ovechkin highlights from game against Columbus Blue Jackets

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) warms up prior to the NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on April 14, 2026.

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Alex Ovechkin highlights from game against Columbus Blue Jackets

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) warms up prior to the NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on April 14, 2026.

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Alex Ovechkin highlights from game against Columbus Blue Jackets

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) warms up prior to the NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on April 14, 2026.

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Alex Ovechkin highlights from game against Columbus Blue Jackets

Fans watch Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) warm up prior to the NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on April 14, 2026.

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Highlights from Blue Jackets final game against Alex Ovechkin, Capitals

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Alex Ovechkin highlights from game against Columbus Blue Jackets

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) takes the ice for the NHL hockey game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on April 14, 2026.

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Highlights from Blue Jackets final game against Alex Ovechkin, Capitals

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Highlights from Blue Jackets final game against Alex Ovechkin, Capitals

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Highlights from Blue Jackets final game against Alex Ovechkin, Capitals

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Alex Ovechkin highlights from game against Columbus Blue Jackets

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Highlights from Blue Jackets final game against Alex Ovechkin, Capitals

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Highlights from Blue Jackets final game against Alex Ovechkin, Capitals

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Alex Ovechkin highlights from game against Columbus Blue Jackets

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Highlights from Blue Jackets final game against Alex Ovechkin, Capitals

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Highlights from Blue Jackets final game against Alex Ovechkin, Capitals

Cole Sillinger, Sean Monahan and Dante Fabbro were credited with hits. Fabbro, Monahan, Jake Christiansen, Mason Marchment, Conor Garland and goalie Jet Greaves were the only ones without a giveaway. It must be noted that nine Blue Jackets contributed to 16 blocked shots, including Fabbro even laying his body fully on the ice to block one with the game tied 1-1 in the third period.

Also, official NHL stats can get a little dicey sometimes, especially in the hits, giveaways and takeaways categories, but Bowness’ points were crystal clear. Though his future is uncertain, and has been since leaving his retirement boat in Florida for Columbus, Bowness mentioned the phrase, ‘If I’m back,’ or ‘If we’re back,’ seven times in his commentary.

That's quite a bit for a talk that lasted less than four minutes. He's clearly thinking about the Jackets' future, whether it works out for him staying or not.

“All you’ve got to do is look at the stat sheet,” Bowness said. “Three hits. Twenty-three giveaways. Like, I don’t know if I’m back, but if I’m back, I’m changing this culture. These guys, they don’t care. Losing is not important enough to them. It doesn’t bother them. Like, how can you go out and play like that?”

Through most of the Blue Jackets’ meltdown, Bowness made sure to mention how good he felt the group of players were that he inherited, how much he enjoyed working with them and even much they cared.

He did send a shot across the bow after a particularly humbling loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, saying they needed to "Shut up and let their play do the talking," but he mostly pointed out how much they cared. He even did it at the end of his rant, saying the Jackets do care, “But they’ve got to show it on the ice.”

Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness reacts to a goal by Washington Capitals right wing Anthony Beauvillier during the second period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on April 14, 2026.

That certainly didn’t happen in the Jackets' last spin, which was played a day after the Philadelphia Flyers eliminated the Jackets and Capitals with a shootout win April 13 in Philly. Neither team wanted to play the season finale and it showed. Most of the night resembled a preseason game where each team ices its NHL lineup for a quick season-opening preview.

The Capitals were outshot 28-21 and finished with 14 hits and 13 giveaways. Tom Wilson, an irritating power forward who loves to stir the pot, said the low hitting, highly sloppy first period was one of the strangest he’d ever experienced.

So, by no means was it good hockey. Even Alex Ovechkin missed an empty cage at the end of what might’ve been his final NHL game. It was just another hockey game that had to be played to wrap up another painful, pitiful finish to a season without playoffs in Columbus.

In the end, the Capitals found a way to win with Jakob Chychrun’s late goal to cap a power play, sending the Blue Jackets to their sixth straight loss at Nationwide Arena to go out with a whimper. Bowness went out roaring.

Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness motions during the second period of the NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on April 14, 2026.

How did this whole meltdown happen after the Jackets cruised to an 18-2-4 start to his tenure?

“Because it got tough, because it got hard,” Bowness said. “Like we talked about after the Olympic break, it’s going to get harder. So, everything’s good as long as it’s going their way. And now it gets tough? We don’t want to battle back. That’s what’s happened over the last couple weeks. That’s all that’s happened.”

He wasn’t finished.

“We’re going to change that,” Bowness said. “If I’m back ... and I don’t know if I’m back, Don and I will talk. We’ll talk, but man, oh, man, some of those guys are so lucky the season is over and there’s no practice tomorrow. Anyways, there’s no more games. What else you want to know?”

How about more on that home losing streak?

“It’s terrible,” Bowness said. “Inexcusable. If they’re not embarrassed by it, not only tonight, by that, they’re on the wrong team. They are. They’ve got to be embarrassed about that. Anything else?”

Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) and teammates salute the fans at center ice following the NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on April 14, 2026. The Blue Jackets lost 2-1.

How about a little more on the future? Was this merely a one-off just to scratch an itch after coming out of retirement, or does Bowness want to run training camp next fall?

“Well, we scratched the itch,” he said. “I’m going to talk to Don, as we said a minute ago, right, and the players were told tonight … if I’m back, we’re changing this freaking culture. And we are.”

How does a coach do that?

“There’s ways,” Bowness said. “I’ve been around long enough to know. I’ll find ways. I’ve got enough experience. I’ve dealt with this. I’ve dealt with it before. If we’re back, we’ll straighten it out.”

Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Bowness on Blue Jackets: 'If I'm back, we're changing this culture'