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Still feeling gobsmacked by the news that Blue Jackets top players Zach Werenski and Kirill Marchenko would rather play elsewhere?
More: 5 Columbus Blue Jackets questions before NHL free agency
Imagine how Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness feels. Bowness met with players in April for exit interviews, not long after his postgame rant ripping them after a lackluster loss in the season finale. Things seemed fine with Werenski and Marchenko, he said.
In fact, hugs and handshakes were exchanged, according to the coach. Then, a couple of months later, Werenski made it known through his agent that he'd prefer to leave, and Marchenko's agent followed suit during the first round of the NHL draft on June 26 in Buffalo.
Wham.
“At the end-of-year meetings, we looked each other in the eye and had great meetings, and we gave each other hugs when we were leaving and all that, so everything was good,” Bowness said June 30 at Nationwide Arena. “So, when this all broke, I was as shocked and caught off guard by it as everyone else. But it is what it is, and [Blue Jackets president/general manager Don Waddell] will look after it with the players and their agents, and I’m going to coach whoever’s here in September. That’s the way I look at it.”
Bowness hasn’t gotten hold of Marchenko, who spends his summers in Russia, but he did reach Werenski via text message shortly after The Athletic’s initial reporting June 10 that a trade request might be incoming from the star defenseman, who has two years left on his contract.
Bowness didn’t reveal the details of their texts but came away feeling like there wasn’t anything he could say to change Werenski’s thinking.
"This has to be dealt with between the agents and [Waddell]," he said. "I’m out of it.”
Bowness is all-in coaching the Blue Jackets, though. Asked if his decision to return might’ve been different had he known Werenski and Marchenko wanted out, Bowness shook his head.
“No, that had no bearing,” he said. “I wanted to come back. I definitely wanted to come back. I enjoyed my time here. I love the players. I do. And I know we’ve got to make some changes to a few things, and we’re going to – on the ice and off the ice. … [but] no, that wouldn’t have changed one thing. I wanted to come back. I want to be here.”
The Jackets’ top two players can’t say the same. However, there’s no guarantee that Waddell will trade either one. He’s asking for high-value returns from GMs who call, so there’s a chance that no trades get done before training camp.
Werenski also has a full no-movement clause in his contract that runs through July 1, 2027, so he can negate any trades for the next year. That shifts to a 10-team, no-trade clause on July 1, 2027, allowing him to still maintain some measure of control. Marchenko has one year left on his contract and also has one year of restricted free agency remaining.
He doesn’t have trade protection, so Waddell could send him anywhere in the NHL, but the Jackets’ GM could just hang onto Marchenko and kick the can down the road to next summer. If so, Werenski and/or Marchenko could play for the Blue Jackets next season while dealing with potential awkwardness around teammates and ire from fans who are fed up with malcontent stars.
That would be reminiscent of 2018-19, when stars Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin caused locker room turmoil after each made it known they wanted out before the season started.
“It’ll be a different challenge, put it that way,” Bowness said. “Whatever happens, happens. I’ll adjust. We can deal with anything. I’ve been watching what’s happened in the NBA the last five or six years, what’s going on with those guys moving around everywhere, so you kind of hope it doesn’t happen in our league. But that’s something I cannot control. It’s a different era. Adapt or die.”
Dispatch Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness 'shocked' by stars seeking exits
Continue reading...
More: 5 Columbus Blue Jackets questions before NHL free agency
Imagine how Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness feels. Bowness met with players in April for exit interviews, not long after his postgame rant ripping them after a lackluster loss in the season finale. Things seemed fine with Werenski and Marchenko, he said.
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In fact, hugs and handshakes were exchanged, according to the coach. Then, a couple of months later, Werenski made it known through his agent that he'd prefer to leave, and Marchenko's agent followed suit during the first round of the NHL draft on June 26 in Buffalo.
Wham.
“At the end-of-year meetings, we looked each other in the eye and had great meetings, and we gave each other hugs when we were leaving and all that, so everything was good,” Bowness said June 30 at Nationwide Arena. “So, when this all broke, I was as shocked and caught off guard by it as everyone else. But it is what it is, and [Blue Jackets president/general manager Don Waddell] will look after it with the players and their agents, and I’m going to coach whoever’s here in September. That’s the way I look at it.”
Bowness hasn’t gotten hold of Marchenko, who spends his summers in Russia, but he did reach Werenski via text message shortly after The Athletic’s initial reporting June 10 that a trade request might be incoming from the star defenseman, who has two years left on his contract.
Bowness didn’t reveal the details of their texts but came away feeling like there wasn’t anything he could say to change Werenski’s thinking.
"This has to be dealt with between the agents and [Waddell]," he said. "I’m out of it.”
You must be registered for see images attach
Bowness is all-in coaching the Blue Jackets, though. Asked if his decision to return might’ve been different had he known Werenski and Marchenko wanted out, Bowness shook his head.
“No, that had no bearing,” he said. “I wanted to come back. I definitely wanted to come back. I enjoyed my time here. I love the players. I do. And I know we’ve got to make some changes to a few things, and we’re going to – on the ice and off the ice. … [but] no, that wouldn’t have changed one thing. I wanted to come back. I want to be here.”
The Jackets’ top two players can’t say the same. However, there’s no guarantee that Waddell will trade either one. He’s asking for high-value returns from GMs who call, so there’s a chance that no trades get done before training camp.
Werenski also has a full no-movement clause in his contract that runs through July 1, 2027, so he can negate any trades for the next year. That shifts to a 10-team, no-trade clause on July 1, 2027, allowing him to still maintain some measure of control. Marchenko has one year left on his contract and also has one year of restricted free agency remaining.
You must be registered for see images attach
He doesn’t have trade protection, so Waddell could send him anywhere in the NHL, but the Jackets’ GM could just hang onto Marchenko and kick the can down the road to next summer. If so, Werenski and/or Marchenko could play for the Blue Jackets next season while dealing with potential awkwardness around teammates and ire from fans who are fed up with malcontent stars.
That would be reminiscent of 2018-19, when stars Sergei Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin caused locker room turmoil after each made it known they wanted out before the season started.
“It’ll be a different challenge, put it that way,” Bowness said. “Whatever happens, happens. I’ll adjust. We can deal with anything. I’ve been watching what’s happened in the NBA the last five or six years, what’s going on with those guys moving around everywhere, so you kind of hope it doesn’t happen in our league. But that’s something I cannot control. It’s a different era. Adapt or die.”
Dispatch Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness 'shocked' by stars seeking exits
Continue reading...
