Head coach unexpectedly fired by eastern conference team

The Columbus Blue Jackets have relieved Head Coach Pascal Vincent of his duties with the club, Blue Jackets President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell announced today. While no further decisions regarding the club's coaching staff will be made at this time, the search for a new head coach will begin immediately.

«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, but I believe a change behind the bench is in our team's best interest,» said Waddell. «On behalf of the organization I want to thank Pascal for his work ethic, professionalism and contributions during his three seasons with the Blue Jackets.»

Columbus went 27-43-12 (66 pts./.402 pts. percentage) in Vincent's lone season as the club's head coach in 2023-24. The 52-year-old joined the Blue Jackets as associate coach in 2021 before taking over head coaching duties on Sept. 17, 2023. He spent 10 seasons as a member of the Winnipeg Jets organization, including five as head coach of the American Hockey League's Manitoba Moose from 2016-21. He compiled a 155-139-31 record in 325 AHL games and was an assistant coach with the Jets under head coaches Claude Noel and Paul Maurice for five seasons from 2011-16.