Bowness Being Linked Back to Werenski and Marchenko Trade Drama

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Things are getting ugly in Columbus, where head coach Rick Bowness has, once again, called out his team. Following a 7-3 loss to the Florida Panthers, Bowness is going back to public humiliation well, and analysts are starting to ask if the message is no longer landing. One even speculated that the Zach Werenski trade talk and the Kirill Marchenko departure are both linked to Bowness’ approach to coaching.

Bowness has arguably never coached a team this bad defensively, and as Columbus slides, the questions about his role in the locker room are getting louder.

After Tuesday’s 7-3 loss, Bowness pointed to the number that is gnawing at him. “We’re 30th in the league in goals against,” he said. “I’ve never coached a team that was 30th.” He added that he is angry and that everyone in the organization should be too. He also noted, “You have to hope, you got to believe that performance tonight will embarrass them enough to stop this, right? Because if they’re not embarrassed by that, we don’t want them on the team. It’s as simple as that.”

Is Bowness Losing the Blue Jackets?

That kind of public criticism is now being connected to the turmoil around the roster. Trade talk surrounding defenceman Zach Werenski and Kirill Marchenko this summer weren’t directly linked, but some are beginning to wonder. Former NHL GM Pierre McGuire said he’s known Bowness a long time, but also hinted that the Werenski drama this offseason didn’t come out of nowhere.

McGuire suggested that it is easy to connect the dots back to Bowness and the tone he has set. He argued “they will eventually stop listening if they haven’t already.”

Calling out a group is nothing new for a veteran coach, and Bowness has built his career on being direct. Whether his words caused the unrest or are simply a symptom of a struggling team is open to debate. The timing, though, is hard to ignore. He pulled this stunt last season when the year ended. He’s doing it again just a few games into a new season.

At what point does he go from a coach who is direct and has the respect of the locker room to one no player wants to play for? Marchenko seemed keen to get out of there. Will Werenski be next if this continues?

If results don’t change, why would one of the best defensemen in the league want to stay? There’s loyalty to an organization and then there’s being beaten down so much that a coach drags the life right out of you. Call out the players once. Do it twice if you have to. After that, the message no longer lands.

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