We’ve got another edition of NHL rumours ready to go. We’re closing in on the end of the 2023-24 season, but there’s still plenty to talk about. The NHL Draft and the start of the free agent period is closing in on us. Some teams have already been busy this off-season and one of them has been the Columbus Blue Jackets. This edition of NHL rumours looks at the Blue Jackets’ quest for a new head coach.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Columbus Blue Jackets Head Coach Search Candidates
Rumour: The Daily Faceoff crew took a look at the possible candidates to be the new Blue Jackets head coach.
Analysis: Columbus has undergone some big changes this season. Don Waddell has replaced Jarmo Kekalainen as the team’s new general manager. One of Waddell’s first moves was to fire Pascal Vincent as the team’s head coach. Vincent was a stopgap option after the hiring of Mike Babcock ended on a sour note.
One can’t blame Waddell for wanting to get his own coach behind the bench. It stinks for Vincent, but trying to keep things afloat was a hard task for even the most experienced of coaches. Waddell probably thought it best to wipe the slate clean and start over again.
The Candidate List
There are a number of quality candidates that Waddell could select from. Everything from experienced NHL bench bosses to dynamic coaches were speculated by Frank Seravalli and Tyler Kuehl of the Daily Faceoff. Names like Todd McLellan, Jay Woodcroft, Dean Evason, Jeff Blashill and Gerard Gallant are also on the open market. For Gallant, it would be a return to Ohio as he coached the team from 2003 until 2007. Some would complain about the Blue Jackets recycling the same old candidates like other teams.
However,there’s one name to keep an eye on and that’s one AHL coach in particular. Todd Nelson has revived his career with the two-time and current defending Calder Cup champion Hershey Bears. The team made the final once again and is playing Coachella Valley in a rematch of last year’s championship series. Nelson did have an unsuccessful stint with the Edmonton Oilers. However, he’s proven that he can work with younger talent.
Dan Bylsma, who is coaching against Nelson in the final, will get another shot at leading an NHL team with the Seattle Kraken in the fall. It would be quite the thing to see Nelson get another crack at at an NHL coaching gig.
Youth Movement
Columbus has been a team that has struggled in recent seasons. The 2019-20 season was the last time the team made the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Their best finish was sixth in the Metropolitan Division in the 2021-22 season and the team has struggled mostly.
However, there are some good young players to be excited about with the Blue Jackets. Players like Adam Fantilli, Kent Johnson and Zach Werenski are all under the age of 27. Injuries did hamper Fantilli and Johnson, but both have shown plenty of promise. The club also has plenty of exciting players in the pipeline with the AHL Cleveland Monsters. A coach like Nelson could do well with this group and he’s somewhat familiar with them since Hershey and Cleveland have quite the rivalry.
One of the things Waddell will have to deal with is giving Patrik Laine a new start. However, the team should get a decent return for the talented forward. Columbus also still has players like Johnny Gaudreau and veterans like Boone Jenner on the roster. There’s work to be done, but it may not be all doom and gloom for the Jackets. However, Waddell needs to hit the right note with his head coaching choice.
Main photo by: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
