The Columbus Blue Jackets team has been in trouble again after another late-season collapse, following a 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals. The team had already been eliminated from the playoffs, but coach Rick Bowness addressed the team's lack of heart and the culture of the locker room. He accused the players of not caring about losing, stating that they simply don't care. This is why they are not important enough to lose, and this is also why they miss the playoffs. This was the second consecutive coach to preside over a late-year collapse, and it's also the second time in a row that the team has kept them out of the playoffs in as many years. The franchise has had five coaches since its last playoff appearance in 2020 and changed its general manager in 2024. Despite these changes, the team remains not close to being a Stanley Cup contender. The ownership has remained constant since the last season, with ownership having rested with McConnell McConnell and McConnell, who last led the team to the playoffs and the core players returning to the team.