A Season of Struggles
Vincent's tenure as head coach for the Blue Jackets can only be described as tumultuous. The team's record for the season ended at 27-43-12, marking the fewest points achieved in the Eastern Conference and the fourth-fewest in the entire NHL. This marked their fourth consecutive season missing the playoffs.
The Blue Jackets endured significant hardships, including a brutal nine-game losing streak in November and winning just three of their 15 games that month. The team experienced eight separate three-game losing streaks throughout the season, the latest being a four-game spiral from April 7 through April 13.
Defensively, the team struggled significantly, allowing the second-most goals per game in the league. Offensively, their performance wasn't much better, ranked as the 24th fewest in terms of goals scored per game. Their special teams were also subpar, with the power play finishing as the second-worst in the league and the penalty kill ranking in the bottom 10.
Leadership Changes
The season's struggles led to organizational changes, beginning with the firing of General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen in February. Kekalainen had been with the organization since the 2012-13 season, but the team's ongoing poor performance necessitated a change.
In May, the Blue Jackets appointed Don Waddell as the new General Manager and President of Hockey Operations. Waddell, formerly the General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, was tasked with steering the team in a new direction. His immediate challenge was to address the head coaching position, a role left vacant amidst a tumultuous tenure by Pascal Vincent.
Vincent's Short Tenure
Pascal Vincent’s role with the Blue Jackets began in the 2021-22 season as an assistant coach. His promotion to head coach came under unusual circumstances when Mike Babcock resigned less than a month before the regular season amid allegations of violating players' privacy.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Vincent was commended for his dedication and work ethic. However, the needs of the team prompted a change in leadership. As the organization stated, "On behalf of our organization, I want to thank Pascal for his work ethic, professionalism, and contributions during his three seasons with the Blue Jackets."
Looking Forward
The Blue Jackets now find themselves as the only NHL team currently without a head coach. The team will join eight others that have hired a new coach or promoted an interim coach to a permanent role recently, with the most recent being Ryan Warsofsky with the San Jose Sharks.
The incoming coach faces the significant challenge of revamping the squad. Improvement is necessary across the board for the Blue Jackets, and the team’s fans and organization are hopeful that new leadership can turn things around. The franchise aims to embark on a new chapter, restoring past glories and bringing renewed success. As the organization expressed, "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 under trying circumstances. But I believe a change behind the bench is in our team's best interest."
The Blue Jackets and their loyal fanbase look forward with cautious optimism, hoping the future will bring with it the much-needed success and revitalization the team has been yearning for.