Don't Let the Door Hit You on the Way Out
2019-01-12The Blue Jackets informed Dan Bylsma early this morning that the team was relieving him of Head Coaching duties. Bylsma has coached the Blue Jackets since the leagues inception to middling results. After four full seasons with the team and not once able to coach the team to a winning record, Bylsma was on thin ice heading into the 2018/19 season.
After GM Andrew Payeur brought in Erik Karlsson, Alex Galchenyuk, Brayden McNabb and Alex Killorn in the offseason to solidify the team as a Stanley Cup contender, expectations were sky high in Columbus. After a dominant 7-0 start to the season, Bylsma seemed to have everyone clicking and it seemed like the team would roll over the Metropolitan division on route to a deep playoff run. But since that hot start the team has gone 2-10-2 and fallen out of a playoff spot. Payeur gave Bylsma one final chance, shaking up the roster by shipping out Robin Lehner and Alex Killorn for Jaroslav Halak and prospects as well as getting Austin Watson back from suspension. One more familiar loss after the trades was the final straw.
The story may sound familiar. Just 10 months ago Payeur loaded up the team for a playoff run. Acquiring Shea Weber, Bryan Little, Jason Pominville and David Backes. Following the trades the team went on an 11 game winning streak and was a top the Metropolitan division. But over the final month of the season, the team collapsed going 5-10-2 and barely making the playoffs, falling all the way down to the final Wild Card spot. The team would go on to lose in the first round of the playoffs. Rumour has it, Payeur was ready to drop the hammer on a Bylsma firing once the regular season ended, but his job was saved after pushing the top seeded Panthers to 7 games.
Veteran coach Dave Tippett will take over Head Coaching duties on an interim basis for the remainder of the season. Tippett was fired in the offseason after three season with the Rangers. Payeur hopes his experience and leadership will be able to right the ship and get this team back into the playoffs.