Doug MacLean decided that the best remedy was to step down as coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. He will remain president and general manager of the team, which has the league’s worst record. Assistant Gerard Gallant was
Doug MacLean decided that the best remedy was to step down as coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. He will remain president and general manager of the team, which has the league’s worst record.
Assistant Gerard Gallant was elevated to the head coaching spot on an interim basis.
MacLean, 24-43-8-4 in almost one full season behind the Blue Jackets’ bench, coached the Florida Panthers to the 1996 Stanley Cup finals in the franchise’s third season.
MacLean fired Dave King, the Blue Jackets’ first coach, last January and took over on an interim basis. He took the job full time in June.
Gallant, an assistant with the Blue Jackets since their inception 3 1/2 years ago and a veteran of more than 600 NHL games, takes over immediately and will lead Columbus on a seven-game road trip that opens Friday in Tampa Bay.
The Blue Jackets have struggled from the outset this season. They were the last team to win a road game, beating Chicago on Dec. 26, and have lost six straight at home.
Columbus’ 1-0 loss to San Jose on Wednesday night matched the franchise’s worst home stretch ever (0-6-1-1). The team has a 9-21-4-3 record and a league-low 25 points.
