COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — A viral postgame rant from Columbus Blue Jackets Head Coach Rick Bowness has sparked intense debate about the franchise’s culture.
“I don’t know if I’ll be back,” said Bowness. “If I’m back, I’m changing this culture. They don’t care. Losing isn’t important enough to these guys. It doesn’t bother them.”
Players pushed back on the idea that losses do not affect the locker room, while still acknowledging that the team has not met its standard.
“Listen, I’m not trying to sit here and go at it with Bones back and forth,” said CBJ defenseman Zach Werenski. “I have a ton of respect for him. He loves us as players, and we love him as coach. I don’t agree that’s how guys in there feel. We do hate to lose; we need to learn how to win.”
The message that the Blue Jackets “need to learn how to win” was echoed repeatedly by other players, including Ivan Provorov and Adam Fantilli.
The Blue Jackets just missed the playoffs for the sixth straight season.
“Was it a little bit warranted? Yeah, of course it was,” said Charlie Coyle. “He’s a guy who I loved playing for, still love playing for. And he cares so much. You can tell in the way he talk and spoke. Was he emotional? Of course he was.”
Bowness and the Blue Jackets will address his future with the team this offseason.