The Columbus Blue Jackets fired head coach Pascal Vincent on Monday after one year behind the bench.
Columbus finished last in the Eastern Conference this season with a 27-43-12 record.
The Blue Jackets have already retooled their front office. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen was fired mid-season on Feb. 15. Former Carolina Hurricanes executive Don Waddell was named GM and president of hockey operations on May 28 while John Davidson moved into an advisory role.
“As I spent time with Pascal over the past few weeks, I found him to be an outstanding person and smart hockey coach who worked very hard last year under trying circumstances, but I believe a change behind the bench is in our team’s best interest,” Waddell said in a release. “On behalf of the organization I want to thank Pascal for his work ethic, professionalism and contributions during his three seasons with the Blue Jackets.”
Vincent joined the Blue Jackets as an associate coach in 2021 and was promoted to head coach this past September after Mike Babcock resigned as players raised privacy concerns about his methods.
Prior to joining the Blue Jackets, Vincent worked with the Winnipeg Jets organization for 10 years including five as the head coach of their AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose.
The 52-year-old from Laval, Que., also served as a head coach in the QMJHL with Cape Breton (1999-2008) and Montreal (2008-11).
The Blue Jackets hold the fourth-overall pick in the upcoming NHL Draft taking place June 28-29 at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
The Columbus Blue Jackets made a surprising decision to dismiss Pascal Vincent as head coach after just one season with the team. Vincent, who was hired in the offseason to replace John Tortorella, was unable to lead the Blue Jackets to success during his short tenure.
Vincent’s dismissal comes after a disappointing season for the Blue Jackets, who finished near the bottom of the standings in the Central Division. Despite high expectations for the team, they struggled to find consistency and were plagued by injuries throughout the season.
Many fans and analysts were critical of Vincent’s coaching style, questioning his ability to motivate and inspire the team. Some also pointed to his lack of experience as a head coach in the NHL as a factor in the team’s underperformance.
In a statement released by the Blue Jackets, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen expressed his gratitude to Vincent for his time with the team but emphasized the need for a change in leadership moving forward. The team will now begin the search for a new head coach to lead them into the next season.
Vincent’s dismissal serves as a reminder of the high expectations and pressure that come with coaching in the NHL. While he may have fallen short in his first season with the Blue Jackets, there is no doubt that he will have opportunities to continue his coaching career elsewhere in the league.
As the Blue Jackets look towards the future, they will be focused on finding a coach who can help turn the team’s fortunes around and lead them back to success. Only time will tell who will be chosen to take on this important role and guide the Blue Jackets to a brighter future.