Blue Jackets coach Bowness torches players: ‘They don’t care’

Columbus Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness questioned his players’ determination to win after an uninspired loss to the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night.

“Just look at the stat sheet: three hits, 23 giveaways. 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 isn’t important enough to them. It doesn’t bother them. How can you go out and play like that?” » said Bowness.

The Jackets were eliminated from the playoffs on Monday when the Philadelphia Flyers secured third place in the Metro Division. Bowness called their efforts in the 2-1 loss to Washington — in what could have been Capitals star Alex Ovechkin’s final game, pending a decision on retirement — “terrible and inexcusable” by his standards.

“If they’re not embarrassed by tonight, they’re on the wrong team,” Bowness said.

The loss ended one of the most frustrating stretches in franchise history for Columbus. The Blue Jackets have won just twice in their last 11 games (2-8-1), collapsing as a top seed in the playoffs. It was a stunning reversal of fortune for Bowness, 70, who started 10-1-0 in his first 11 games after retiring to replace Dean Evason on January 12. Columbus finished with a record of 40-30-12 (.561 points percentage).

“I should have done it about a month ago, but that’s why we’re here. That’s why we’re out of the playoffs. That kind of effort,” Bowness said. “You have to hate losing. I don’t care if it’s a meaningless game. I don’t care. Show up and compete.”

Bowness said his team withered under the pressure of the Eastern Conference playoff race.

“Because it’s become difficult. Because it’s become difficult. Like we talked about after the Olympic break: it’s going to get more difficult. So it’s all good as long as it goes as planned. And now it’s getting difficult and we don’t want to retaliate,” he said. “We’re going to change that. Some of these guys are so lucky the season is over and there’s no practice tomorrow.”

Columbus has not qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2020. Since entering the league in the 2000-01 season, the Jackets have only advanced past the first round of the playoffs once.

Bowness said he would discuss his future with general manager Don Waddell.

“We told the players tonight: if I come back, we’re changing this damn culture,” he said.