The Columbus Blue Jackets relieved head coach Pascal Vincent of his duties, President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell announced Monday.
“As I spent time with Pascal over the past few weeks, I found him to be an outstanding person and smart hockey coach who worked very hard last year under trying circumstances,” Waddell said in a team statement. “But I believe a change behind the bench is in our team’s best interest.”
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman first reported the move on social media early Monday evening, soon being confirmed by The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline.
The 52-year-old took the Blue Jackets’ head coaching job just weeks before the start of the 2023-24 season after Mike Babcock, who was originally hired as Columbus’ bench boss in July 2023, resigned days after the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast reported Babcock asked players to share photos on their phones.
During his one season with the Blue Jackets, Vincent led the team to a 27-43-12 record with 66 points, last in the Eastern Conference and fourth-last in the NHL.
Vincent made fans and those who follow the club scratch their heads with his decisions to scratch some of the younger players on the rebuilding team, including Kent Johnson and David Jiricek, their 2022 No. 6 overall pick.
Before joining the Blue Jackets, Vincent spent 10 seasons with the Winnipeg Jets organization, joining the NHL club as an assistant coach. He would be promoted to head coach of their AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, ahead of the 2016-17 season. He would be named the AHL’s Most Outstanding Coach award.
He would step down from the role to join the Blue Jackets’ staff in June 2021.
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