Columbus Blue Jackets Coaching Search: Who Are the Candidates?

As the Blue Jackets continue to narrow their search for a new head coach, we’re profiling the likely top candidates for the job and offering pros and cons to each potential hire. Obviously, we have no insider info here and these names are just rumors and speculation – but, let’s discuss…

At the top of this list is a potential in-house hire: Pascal Vincent. We have seen a lot of positivity and negativity in regards to this idea, and it’s easy to see both sides of this. As we are frequently remembered, when the team last made a coaching hire (John Tortorella), it spelled the end for one of the top young up and coming coaches in the league (Jared Bednar).

The Jackets had a nice run of success under Torts, but Bednar got the last laugh, leading the Colorado Avalanche to a Stanley Cup last spring. Those of us who have been around the franchise for a long time know this sting, and we have to wonder how much differently things could be if they had promoted from within when they fired Todd Richards in 2015.

The parallels here are similar, but not identical. Pascal Vincent has only been with the Blue Jacket organization for two years, serving as an assistant coach. Prior to that, he spent 10 years with the Winnipeg Jets organization, serving as an assistant coach for the NHL team, and a head coach in the AHL. This after a very successful run in the QMJHL, serving as coach and general manager of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.

At 51 years old, he’s no spring chicken – but in the grand scheme of coaching candidates, he’s the young, inexperienced upstart, who is looking for his first opportunity to lead an NHL squad. I have wondered if the Jackets might have brought him over from Winnipeg on the back of a promise to eventually get that shot here. After all, he seemed to be the heir apparent to Paul Maurice in Winnipeg.

The benefit for the Jackets here would be two-fold. They would have a coach who saw the issues plaguing this team last season first-hand, who could make his own adjustments to try and fix things from within. He’s had a history of doing that well at each level, and would have the opportunity to grow with the team, as opposed to bringing an imposing presence to the group.

Secondly, he probably comes in a lot cheaper than an external or higher profile candidate. This maybe appealing to ownership, who will still be footing the bill for Brad Larsen through this season.

My gut says they have at least seriously considered giving Vincent the job. They thought highly enough of him to bring him into the organization two years ago, in spite of the fact that they couldn’t meet him in person. Vincent probably has the inside edge on this job, unless someone else wows them enough to change their minds.

With interviews happening all week, we’re certain there are a lot of people who aren’t being talked about at all. But, a few names have been bounced around the fanbase and reported by media.

Mike Babcock’s name immediately riled up the fanbase. Whether that’s good or bad is debatable; I can remember when Tortorella’s name first came up, the same thing happened. One thing we can’t do here is look past the facts: in 1,301 games as NHL coach, Babcock has a record of 700-418-164 (with 19 ties).

He’s a guy who has had tremendous success, and like Laviolette and Tortorella, he has a way of getting the most out of his players. His scheme focuses less on checking and more on puck possession and skill, which would be appealing for a young team like the Blue Jackets.

But with that said, he’s come under fire for his old-school approach to coaching, which may not resonate with the U25 players on this team. It’s hard to see this hire happening for these reasons – I can’t see Jarmo risking his career on a coach whose no-nonsense attitude may drive out the best group of prospects this franchise has ever had.

Patrick Roy’s name came up via the 32 thoughts podcast, which also created a firestorm amongst the masses of Blue Jacket fans. Like Babcock, Roy brings a big personality; one that will not allow players to clash with him. But unlike Babcock, Roy doesn’t have a long history of success at the NHL level – holding just a 130-92-24 record as an NHL head coach.

Roy eventually stepped down from the Avalanche, in part because he wanted more power over his own lineups. This may prevent him from being a serious contender for an NHL job, unless he wants to concede to just being a coach.

I have a hard time seeing either Babcock or Roy hired by the Jackets at this point, but admittedly, anything is possible here. After all, they hired John Tortorella at a time when many thought his NHL coaching career was finished.

The two coaches discussed on the last page are arguably not even the most controversial potential hires for the Jackets, believe it or not. In fact, my favorite candidate comes with his own skeleton in the closet.

If I were making the choice here, or at least taking part in the interviews, Andrew Brunette is right near the top of my list of potential hires. He checks the boxes as far as what I think this franchise could use: he’s an up and coming coach who has a history of working with his players, rather than butting heads. He’s offensive minded, and he has a great track record behind the bench.

In fact, the only reason I can see the team not giving “Bruno” serious consideration, is his DUI arrest last year. That said, the Boston Bruins gave Jim Montgomery a second chance after alcohol issues, and look at where it got them. Someone is going to give that chance to Brunette – very soon.

Brunette took over for Joel Quenneville in Florida last year, and casually led the Panthers to a 51-18-6 record in 75 games – winning the President’s Trophy in the process. They got bounced in the second round of the playoffs, leading to his demise – but all he did was go to New Jersey as an assistant, helping the Devils to a 49-point improvement over last season. Give me some of that.

The other name we should bring up here? The other man mentioned in the last paragraph, Joel Quenneville. If you want to talk about skeletons in someone’s closet, look no further than a man who was ousted from the NHL last season – and with good reason.

But, Quenneville is meeting with Gary Bettman this summer, in an attempt to get himself re-instated to the NHL. And, as things go in sports, a successful track record means that he will get an opportunity somewhere, probably immediately. That said, my best guess here is that he’ll get hired on as an assistant to start, with hopes of keeping him out of the spotlight for awhile.

And, I don’t see that happening with the Blue Jackets. Personally, I feel like we can cross “Q” right off our list. As we have done with recently fired Rangers coach Gerard Gallant, who hasn’t even interviewed for the job thus far.

Aside from any other candidates popping up, to me, it feels like this opportunity is really down to Peter Laviolette and Pascal Vincent. I may be wrong, especially with the team mentioning this week that they’re going to extend their search beyond the World Championships. That could mean that they’re not fully on board with everything they see so far, or that there is another candidate that they are hoping to see available. We’ll keep following this story closely, all the way up until a hire is made.