Columbus Blue Jackets Fire Head Coach After Disappointing Season

Columbus Blue Jackets Fire Head Coach After Disappointing Season...

The Columbus Blue Jackets have fired head coach Brad Larsen after the team failed to make the playoffs for the third consecutive season. The announcement came early Monday morning, just two days after the Blue Jackets wrapped up their 2025-26 campaign with a 29-42-11 record.

General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen called the decision "difficult but necessary" in a statement released by the team. Larsen, who had been with the organization for over a decade as both an assistant and head coach, compiled a 78-112-28 record during his three seasons at the helm.

The move comes as no surprise to hockey analysts, as the Blue Jackets finished last in the Metropolitan Division and 30th overall in the 32-team NHL. Fans had grown increasingly frustrated with the team's lack of progress, particularly after several high-profile offseason acquisitions failed to produce results.

Social media reaction has been mixed, with some fans applauding the change while others question whether Larsen was set up to fail given the team's roster construction. The Blue Jackets have not won a playoff series since their historic 2019 sweep of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Team president John Davidson told reporters the search for a new coach will begin immediately. Early speculation points to several available veteran coaches, including former Blue Jackets bench boss John Tortorella, though team officials declined to comment on specific candidates.

The firing comes at a critical time for the franchise, which faces pressure to develop its young core of talented prospects. Rookie sensation Kent Johnson told reporters after Sunday's season finale that "whoever comes in needs to help us take the next step."

Columbus becomes the third NHL team to make a coaching change this offseason, following the St. Louis Blues and Philadelphia Flyers. The Blue Jackets' front office now faces increased scrutiny to deliver results after this latest organizational shakeup.

Season ticket holders will be watching closely as the team prepares for the NHL Draft in June and free agency in July. The Blue Jackets hold the fourth-best odds for the draft lottery, which takes place next month.