The Columbus Blue Jackets have parted ways with head coach Pascal Vincent.
Pascal Vincent's tenure as head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets did not last long.
The man who previously spent 10 years with the Winnipeg Jets organization now find himself out of a job after just one season at the helm in Ohio.
Having spent five seasons as an assistant coach with the Jets, Vincent, now 52, moved to the AHL where he took over as head coach of the Moose in 2015-16. He maintained that role through the 2020-21 season, before leaving town to join Columbus as an associate the following year.
He served in that capacity for two years before taking over as head coach following the mishandled Mike Babcock debacle.
Things did not go well for Vincent during his lone season in charge, but it was hardly his fault. Dealt a bad hand from the get-go, Vincent's team struggled in all three areas of the game, while producing the Eastern Conference's worst record (27-43-12) and missed the playoffs for the fourth-straight year.
General manager Jarmo Kekalainen was fired in February and Don Waddell has since taken over up top.
“As I spent time with Pascal over the past few weeks, I found him to be an outstanding person and smart hockey coach who worked very hard last year under trying circumstances, but I believe a change behind the bench is in our team’s best interest,” Waddell said.
“On behalf of the organization I want to thank Pascal for his work ethic, professionalism and contributions during his three seasons with the Blue Jackets.”
Prior to joining True North Sports + Entertainment, the Quebec product spent 12 year in the QMJHL with both the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles and the Montreal Juniors.
With Winnipeg rounding out its coaching staff on Tuesday, the chance of a return to the Jets - or even the Moose at this point - is rather slim, despite True North's affinity for returning talent.