Bowness rips Blue Jackets defense over poor start

Columbus ranks 30th in goals against

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 1h1 min read

"We're 30th in the league in goals against. I've never coached a team that was 30th... I'm mad, I'm really mad." Rick B Via @Sportsnet on X

What happened: Rick Bowness said Columbus sits 30th in goals against early in the 2026-27 season. The same Bowness who addressed media in September added he had never coached a team ranked that low defensively.

Why it matters: Conceding at that rate leaves little margin to stay in the Eastern Conference race. The public criticism puts early pressure on the blue line and goaltending to tighten up.

By the numbers: Columbus ranks 30th in the league in goals against.

What to watch: Columbus looks to stabilize defensively in its upcoming games.

Sources

@Sportsnet 2026-10-16T20:06:57.312252+00:00

CONVERSATION

Loading comments…

NHLAnalysisColumbus Blue Jackets

Follow NHL Intelligence

Real-time signals and analysis

@WireReportPuck

WR Pro

The day's sports, briefed to your inbox at 7am ET. Every claim sourced.

$9/month Free weekly newsletter →