Don Waddell’s remake of the Blue Jackets’ support staff is complete.
The Blue Jackets’ president/general manager has hired Barry Brennan, 62, as head strength-and-conditioning coach. Brennan, who held the same role previously for the Blue Jackets from 2005-2010, has spent the past 12 years working with the Kontinental Hockey League. That includes a six-year stint (2011-2017) working with Sergei Fedorov while the former Blue Jackets star was general manager for CSKA Moscow, one of the KHL’s crown jewel programs.
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More: Columbus Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell makes staff changes
After his previous stint in Columbus, Brennan spent one season with the Atlanta Thrashers (2011-12) prior to that organization moving to Winnipeg. Waddell was president of the Thrashers when Brennan was hired. Rick Nash, the Blue Jackets’ director of hockey operations, was in his prime as a star forward during Brennan’s first stint in Columbus.
“Barry Brennan is a well-respected, experienced leader in his field and we are very pleased to welcome him back to the Blue Jackets,” Waddell said in a statement. “Ryan Gadbois has done a phenomenal job for us as our assistant strength & conditioning coach, and we believe our players will benefit greatly from working with Barry and Ryan.”
Sep 18, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell speaks during a media day press conference at Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets start training camp on Sept. 19.
Brennan’s hiring completes hires prompted by Waddell’s decision on April 23 to part ways with former video coach Dan Singleton, equipment manager Jamie Healy, strength coach Kevin Collins and assistant athletic trainer/massage therapist Naoto Goto.
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The Blue Jackets announced July 15 that Aron Augustitus was promoted to video coach, Paul DeFazio was hired as head equipment manager, Inar Treiguts was hired as massage therapist, Matthew and Anthony Donskov were hired as development coaches and former Bowling Green head coach Ty Eigner was hired as a special assignment scout.
Augustitus previously worked with Singleton as a video coach. DeFazio worked for the Pittsburgh Penguins as assistant equipment manager from 2018-25 as part of his 27 years with that team.
May 29, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Don Waddell speaks to reporters after being hired as president of hockey operations and general manager for the Columbus Blue Jackets during a media press conference at Nationwide Arena.
Treiguts worked for Waddell from 1999-2011 with the Thrashers before shifting to a role with the Detroit Red Wings (2011-2020) and the Donskovs — who worked as guest coaches during the Jackets’ past two NHL development camps — have helped local hockey players improve for 25 years with Donskov Hockey Development.
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Healy and Singleton had worked for the Blue Jackets since the team’s inaugural season in 2000-01, while Collins started in 2010. All three plus Goto had expiring contracts.
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: NHL news: Blue Jackets bring back Barry Brennan as strength coach