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Three Candidates for the Columbus Blue Jackets head coach vacancy

The Blue Jackets relieved Pascal Vincent of his head coaching duties of the club. There are a lot of candidates to take the position, but who are the best candidates?

By Matthew Duffey |
Dallas Stars v Columbus Blue Jackets
Dallas Stars v Columbus Blue Jackets / Jason Mowry/GettyImages
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Just three weeks into the job, Don Waddell made his first move as general manager of the Blue Jackets: Firing Pascal Vincent.

This is not a surprise to anyone who follows the team. The on-ice results just have not been there and it was time for a new voice in the locker room. In all fairness to Vincent, he was put into a difficult position from the get-go and really was put in a no-win situation from the start.

Waddell has stated that he wants a coach with head coaching experience in the NHL. He stated that he has a list of a dozen candidates or more. Who may be on that list?

Some of the rumored names on the list have been Bob Hartley, Claude Julien, Dean Evason, Gerard Gallant, Jay Woodcraft, Jeff Blashill, Todd McLellan, and Todd Nelson. Waddell’s list probably includes many more names. Waddell has said that he will do his due-diligence and then narrow the list down to 3 or 4 candidates for interviews.

So, who makes the final cut? We take a shot at that shortlist.

1. Todd McLellan

Los Angeles Kings v Arizona Coyotes
Los Angeles Kings v Arizona Coyotes / Christian Petersen/GettyImages

McLellan has been a head coach for three different NHL organizations and has coached 1144 games. In that time, he went to the playoffs 10 times (in 15 seasons).

He has been a fairly successful coach and has been a coach for teams that were on the upward trajectory of their rebuild (similar to the CBJ). His former players have raved about his communication and messaging to players, which is desperately needed in Columbus.

He would give a new voice to the dreadful power play and should help develop the young players on the roster. If the organization values communication, then McLellan may be the top candidate.

2. Gerard Gallant

New York Rangers v Florida Panthers
New York Rangers v Florida Panthers / Joel Auerbach/GettyImages

Gallant got his first head coaching position with the Blue Jackets during the 2003 season. Since then, he has been the head coach for three other NHL organizations.

Outside of his time in Columbus, he saw great success from behind the bench. The former CBJ head coach made the playoffs in 8 of the 9 seasons with those other organizations.

His best coaching job was the inaugural season of the Vegas Golden Knights, where he took an expansion team to the Stanley Cup Final. One pause to hiring Gallant is that he was let go from all those positions, three of which were during/after winning seasons.

That raises more questions than answers.

But, the numbers don’t lie, Gallant is a good coach. He won 52% of his games, which included terrible seasons with the Blue Jackets. If the organization is putting winning now first, then Gallant may be the ideal candidate.

3. Dean Evason

Minnesota Wild v Chicago Blackhawks
Minnesota Wild v Chicago Blackhawks / Michael Reaves/GettyImages

Evason has only been a head coach for one NHL club (the Minnesota Wild). In his three seasons in Minnesota, he made the playoffs all three times and helped the team exceed expectations.

He changed the culture in Minnesota and got the best out of his players. That is something that is needed in Columbus. If the organization is putting culture first, Evason may be the top candidate.

Each candidate has his pros and cons. While I think any of the three mentioned above could be a good coach for the team, I really don’t have a preference of one guy over the other. I don’t see a candidate who is a slam-dunk, perfect fit for the club.

Regardless of who the next coach will be, the team will have a new voice and will have a new culture. That has been needed for years. Hopefully the new coach can breathe fresh life into the veteran players and help develop the young guys who are coming.

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