The Columbus Blue Jackets announced the firing of head coach Pascal Vincent only one season into his contract. In the 2023-24 season, his team finished last in the Eastern Conference with a 27-43-12 record.
Vincent has served different coaching positions in the AHL and NHL since the 2011-12 season. But before that, he had a long career in the QMJHL as a player, coach and general manager.
The Laval native got his QMJHL start as a player in 1988-89 with the St-Jean Castors/Lynx franchise, where he remained for two seasons. He then played for the Laval Titans and he was moved to the Verdun College-Francais in the middle of the 1991-92 season.
That same year, Verdun won what is now known as the Gilles-Courteau Trophy, but fell in the Memorial Cup. He finished his QMJHL playing days with the Granby Bisons the following season.
Vincent’s first big management role in the QMJHL came with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles. From 1999-00 to 2007-08, he served as both the team’s general manager and head coach.
The following season, he took on the same two roles for the Montreal Juniors, who are now known as the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. He stayed three seasons and eventually got his first NHL job as an assistant coach with the Winnipeg Jets.
Vincent became head coach last season for the Blue Jackets following the controversial hiring and firing of Mike Babcock.
Despite his rather tumultuous NHL 2023-24 season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see someone with his pedigree join the QMJHL once again. That is if he is not given another opportunity in the AHL or NHL.