Overview
- Following Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Capitals, Bowness said his players “don’t care,” pointing to “three hits, 23 giveaways” as proof of poor effort.
- The 71-year-old coach said he does not know if he will be back and that he will speak with GM Don Waddell, adding he would change the culture if he returns.
- Columbus finished 40-30-12, missed the playoffs for a sixth straight year, went 2-8-1 in its final 11 games, and dropped six straight at home to end the season.
- Captain Boone Jenner said the team must own the collapse and learn from it, while Zach Werenski disagreed with the claim that players do not care but backed the need to learn how to win.
- Offseason decisions now center on Bowness’s status and pending free agents such as Jenner, Charlie Coyle and Mason Marchment, giving Waddell levers to reshape the roster and culture.