The Columbus Blue Jackets are an American professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio. They play in the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Hockey League (NHL). [1] The team joined the NHL in 2000 as an expansion team. The Blue Jackets have played their home games at the Nationwide Arena since their inaugural season. [2] The franchise is owned by John P. McConnell and Don Waddell is their general manager. [3] [4]
There have been 10 full-time head coaches for the Blue Jackets franchise. The team's first head coach was Dave King, who coached for three seasons. Ken Hitchcock coached the team to its first playoff appearance. Scott Arniel was the head coach of the Blue Jackets from 2010 through 2012. [5] Todd Richards was named interim head coach on January 9, 2012, and would remain with the team for more than 3½ seasons. [6] John Tortorella became the head coach on October 21, 2015, and left the team following the 2020–21 season with the Blue Jackets' highest winning percentage (.568). [7] Tortorella was replaced by Brad Larsen, [8] who served as head coach for two years before being fired at the conclusion of the 2022–23 season. [9] Mike Babcock was subsequently hired to replace Larsen; [10] however, Babcock resigned before coaching a game for Columbus, after allegations of improper behavior via the Spittin' Chiclets podcast led to an NHLPA investigation. [11] After Babcock's resignation, Pascal Vincent was subsequently named head coach. [11] Vincent was subsequently fired after just one season as head coach, later being replaced by Dean Evason. [12]
# | Number of coaches [a] |
GC | Games coached |
W | Wins = 2 points |
L | Losses = 0 points |
T | Ties = 1 point |
OT | Overtime/shootout losses = 1 point [b] |
PTS | Points |
Win% | Winning percentage |
* | Spent entire NHL head coaching career with the Blue Jackets |
Note: Statistics are correct through the end of the 2023–24 season.
# | Name | Term [c] | Regular season | Playoffs | Achievements | Reference | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GC | W | L | T/OT | PTS | Win% | GC | W | L | Win% | |||||
1 | Dave King | 2000–2003 | 204 | 64 | 106 | 34 | 162 | .397 | — | — | — | — | [13] | |
2 | Doug MacLean | 2003–2004 | 79 | 24 | 43 | 12 | 60 | .380 | — | — | — | — | [14] | |
3 | Gerard Gallant | 2004–2006 | 142 | 56 | 76 | 10 | 122 | .430 | — | — | — | — | [15] | |
— | Gary Agnew* | 2006 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | .100 | — | — | — | — | [16] | |
4 | Ken Hitchcock | 2006–2010 | 284 | 125 | 123 | 36 | 286 | .503 | 4 | 0 | 4 | .000 | [17] | |
— | Claude Noel | 2010 | 24 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 26 | .542 | — | — | — | — | [18] | |
5 | Scott Arniel | 2010 – 2012 | 123 | 45 | 60 | 18 | 108 | .439 | — | — | — | — | [19] | |
6 | Todd Richards | 2012 – 2015 | 260 | 127 | 112 | 21 | 275 | .488 | 6 | 2 | 4 | .333 | [20] | |
7 | John Tortorella | 2015–2021 | 447 | 227 | 166 | 54 | 508 | .568 | 31 | 13 | 18 | .419 | Won the 2016–17 Jack Adams Award | [21] |
8 | Brad Larsen* | 2021–2023 | 164 | 62 | 86 | 16 | 140 | .429 | — | — | — | — | [22] | |
9 | Mike Babcock | 2023 [d] | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | [23] | |
10 | Pascal Vincent* | 2023–2024 | 82 | 27 | 43 | 12 | 66 | .402 | — | — | — | — | [24] | |
11 | Dean Evason | 2024–present | – | — | — | — | — | [25] |
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio. The Blue Jackets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. Founded on June 25, 1997, the franchise began play as an expansion team in 2000.
Mike Babcock is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former player. He spent parts of eighteen seasons as a head coach in the National Hockey League (NHL), beginning when he was named head coach of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, whom he led to the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals. In 2005, Babcock signed with the Detroit Red Wings, winning the Stanley Cup with them in 2008, and helping them to the Stanley Cup playoffs every year during his tenure and setting a record for most wins in Red Wings history. In 2015, he left Detroit to coach the Toronto Maple Leafs, a position he held until he was fired in 2019. During his coaching tenure from 1991 to 2019, Babcock's teams missed the post-season only four times. In 2023, he attempted a return to the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets; however, he resigned before the beginning of the 2023–24 season amidst investigations into allegations of misconduct.
John Tortorella is an American professional ice hockey coach and former player who is the head coach for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Tortorella was previously the head coach of the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Vancouver Canucks. He led Tampa Bay to the 2004 Stanley Cup championship.
The Manitoba Moose are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and a member of the American Hockey League (AHL). The team plays its home games at Canada Life Centre, the home arena of its parent club, Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Scott William Arniel is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player who is the head coach for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL). Previously, he was the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets and associate coach of the New York Rangers, Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets.
Dean Clement Evason is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player who currently serves as the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously served as head coach of the Minnesota Wild. Evason was selected by the Washington Capitals in the fifth round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. Evason was born in Flin Flon, Manitoba, but grew up in Brandon, Manitoba.
Brad Larsen is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player who most recently served as the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). Before coaching, he played in the NHL with the Colorado Avalanche and the Atlanta Thrashers between 1998 and 2008. He is the former head coach of the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League (AHL). He has been hired as an Assistant Coach for the Calgary Flames (NHL) as of June 11, 2024.
Brandon Grae Dubinsky is an American former professional ice hockey player. He previously played for the New York Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). Dubinsky was drafted 60th overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Rangers.
Nikita Vasilyevich Filatov is a Russian former professional ice hockey left winger who played in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Prior to 2012, Filatov played in North America for the Ottawa Senators and Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Todd Michael Richards is an American ice hockey coach and former player. He is the current assistant coach of the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Pascal Vincent is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player who currently serves as the head coach for the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League (AHL). Vincent was previously head coach of the AHL's Manitoba Moose from 2016 to 2021 and an assistant coach for the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL) from 2011 to 2016. He was named General Manager of the Year in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) for the 2006–07 season, Coach of the Year for the 2007–08 season, and likewise won the most outstanding coach award for the 2017–18 AHL season. In 2023, Vincent was named head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets, following two seasons as an assistant coach and the resignation of Mike Babcock prior to the 2023–24 NHL season. He was subsequently fired after his lone season with Columbus, having finished last in the Metropolitan Division.
The 2010–11 Columbus Blue Jackets season was the team's 11th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 25, 1997.
Boone Robbie Jenner is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL).
The 2015–16 Columbus Blue Jackets season was the 16th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 25, 1997. Columbus hired head coach John Tortorella following the firing of Todd Richards, who started the season 0–8–0. The team began its regular season games on October 9, 2015 against the New York Rangers.