Bowness Extends Blue Jackets' Winning Streak

0:00On April 16th, Rick Bownes is sticking around as head coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets next season after signing an extension on Thursday. The 71-year-old came out of retirement in January to take over a struggling squad dead last in the east. Under him, they posted a 21 wins, 11 losses, and 5 ties record for the rest of the year. The team caught fire right away, going 19 wins, 3 losses, and 4 ties in their next 26 games to climb into second in the Metro, Division. But injuries hit hard late, leading to a rough two wins, 8 losses, and 1 tie finish. That dropped them out of the playoffs for the sixth straight year, capped by a six-game home losing streak. Players can't say enough good things about Bownes. Defensemen and Fords alike call him the best coach they've had, praising his passion, communication, and focus on winning details. No-manager Don Woodell says he's built strong bonds and is the perfect leader to push for

1:00a Stanley Cup. Bownes brings unmatched experience, with over 2,763 games coached or assisted. The most in NHL history. His full career sits at 331 wins across multiple teams, and he knows how to turn things around. Now with free agents like Guprinson, Jenner, and Marchman on the horizon come July 1st. The Blue Jackets are locked in on building from this. His lessons. Expect that fire to return as they gear up to compete. I'm Corey with The Story, and you've been listening to NHL News today, AI-powered team coverage.