As the regular season comes to an end in the NHL, nothing has changed for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The team has missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year. The Blue Jackets did a fine job of climbing the standings over the course of the season, going from the very bottom of the Metropolitan Division on January 1 to second place behind the Carolina Hurricanes on March 25, for instance.
However, what ultimately matters is that Columbus failed to qualify for the postseason, and HC Rick Bowness was unforgiving in his criticism of the team’s uninspired approach to games and winning.
Rick Bowness Goes on Brutal Rant Following Columbus Blue Jackets’ Playoff Miss
The Blue Jackets reached the end of the unceremonious season with a 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals. With that defeat, Columbus has won only three of its past 13 games, and end with a six-game losing streak at home. It truly does not get any worse.
Against the Capitals, the Blue Jackets had just three hits and 23 giveaways, a tragic performance that showed how uninterested the team was in playing the final game of the season.
While it is true that showing up may be challenging for a team that knows its playoff chances are minimal, Bowness believes the Blue Jackets need a major attitude adjustment.
“These guys, they don’t care. Losing is not important enough to them. It doesn’t bother them. That kind of effort. 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, 23 giveaways…
“It’s terrible. Inexcusable. If they’re not embarrassed by not only tonight, by that, they’re on the wrong team. They are,” Bowness ranted, unable to hold himself back.
An emotional and angry Rick Bowness goes OFF on his #CBJ team after their 2-8-1 finish to the season: “These guys, they don’t care. Losing is not important enough to them … If I’m back, we’re changing this freaking culture.” pic.twitter.com/ZjBpaxhmPB
— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) April 15, 2026
The Blue Jackets’ HC believes the team’s culture is flawed, and if he resumes his role at the helm next season, he will ensure Columbus’s culture changes. “I’m just saying, the players were told tonight, if I’m back, we’re changing this freaking culture.”
Bowness is not the first individual to have qualms about the Blue Jackets’ dreary attitude. Before heading to play with the Montreal Canadiens, Patrik Laine voiced similar concerns about the franchise.
“They are a little too satisfied and too comfortable where they are at. It was not really a fit for me anymore,” the 27-year-old winger stated before pointing out that the Canadiens, regardless of their position, are always trying their best. “Here (in Montreal), it doesn’t matter if we are winning or losing, we are always trying our best.”
Although Laine did not clarify whether he had his former teammates or the Blue Jackets’ management in mind when he advanced his critique, the case for change in Columbus has been established.
READ MORE: Brady Tkachuk Narrates ‘Scary’ Brush With Losing Vision Ahead of Round 1 of Stanley Cup Playoffs
