Blue Jackets' Bowness And Red Wings' McLellan Were Absolutely Right

Sometimes, the truth hurts. But there are also times when there are people who need to hear it in all its unvarnished uncomfortableness.

That was the case when the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings decided to mail in their final games of the 2025-26 season and were blasted by their coaches, Rick Bowness and Todd McLellan, for it.

Coaches have so few devices at their disposal, and shaming players for their lack of effort is a powerful one, even if there's no more runway left in the season.

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This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 4:29 PM.