NHL coach rips players after stunning late-season collapse extends playoff drought: 'They don’t care'

The Columbus Blue Jackets person missed nan playoffs for nan sixth consecutive twelvemonth acknowledgment to a stunning late-season illness that concluded pinch a 2-1 nonaccomplishment to nan Washington Capitals connected Tuesday night. 

The statement went from 2nd successful nan Metropolitan Division past period to being eliminated successful a 3-2 shootout nonaccomplishment to nan Philadelphia Flyers connected Monday. Head coach Rick Bowness, who came retired of status to return complete nan occupation successful January, didn’t clasp backmost connected his squad erstwhile speaking to reporters connected Tuesday night.

Head coach Rick Bowness of nan Columbus Blue Jackets watches nan play during an NHL crippled against nan Carolina Hurricanes astatine Lenovo Center successful Raleigh, N.C., connected April 2, 2026. (Katherine Gawlik/Icon Sportswire)

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"All you gotta do is look astatine nan stat sheet: Three hits, 23 giveaways. I don't cognize if I'm back, but if I'm back, I'm changing this culture," he said bluntly. "These guys – they don't care. Losing is not important capable to them. It doesn't fuss them. How tin you spell retired and play for illustration that?" 

"I should person done this astir a period ago, but this is why we are wherever we are. This is why we're retired of nan playoffs. That benignant of effort. You person to dislike losing. I don't attraction if it's a meaningless game. I don't care. Show up and compete."

Columbus Blue Jackets caput coach Rick Bowness directs his squad from nan chair against nan Florida Panthers astatine Amerant Bank Arena successful Sunrise, Fla., connected March 12, 2026. (Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

Bowness replaced Dean Evason connected Jan. 12 arsenic nan Blue Jackets sat successful past spot successful nan Eastern Conference. But he quickly changed things around, and Columbus went 18-2-4 successful his first 24 games. 

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The Blue Jackets recovered themselves successful a playoff spot, but arsenic quickly arsenic things had changed for nan better, they went 3-9-1 down nan agelong to miss nan playoffs for nan sixth consecutive season.

"Some of those guys are truthful fortunate nan season's complete and there's nary believe tomorrow," Bowness said, later adding, "Inexcusable. If they're not embarrassed by not only coming – by that – they're connected nan incorrect team." 

Columbus Blue Jackets caput coach Rick Bowness coaches against nan New York Rangers during nan 2nd play astatine Madison Square Garden successful New York, N.Y., connected March 2, 2026. (Brad Penner/Imagn Images)

"If I'm back, we're changing this freaking culture."

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 The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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