Mar 29, 2025; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Dean Evason looks up at a replay during a timeout in the third period against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

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Columbus Blue Jackets Extend Contracts of Three Assistant Coaches

Columbus locks in key members of coaching staff with multi-year contract extensions ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are sticking with the team behind the team. With head coach Dean Evason already under a multi-year deal, the organization has now extended the contracts of his three assistant coaches, Niklas Backstrom, Jared Boll, and Steve McCarthy, ensuring continuity on the bench as the club looks ahead to the 2025-26 NHL season. While the exact terms of the extensions weren’t shared, the message is clear: Columbus values the chemistry and experience these coaches bring.

Niklas Backstrom, the team’s goaltending coach, will be entering his sixth season with the Blue Jackets. He’s worn multiple hats during his time with the organization, from scouting talent overseas to developing prospects in Europe. But over the past two seasons, he’s focused on helping Columbus’s goaltenders perform at the NHL level. A former NHL goalie himself, Backstrom brings first-hand knowledge from his 413-game career, mostly spent with the Minnesota Wild, where he posted a strong .914 save percentage and a 2.49 goals-against average.

The Athletic: Blue Jackets part ways with strength coach Kevin Collins, three other longtime support staffers
Meanwhile, #CBJ assistant coaches Niklas Backstrom (goaltending), Jared Boll and Steve McCarthy have signed extensionshttps://t.co/fdp72K3K6C
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) April 21, 2025

Jared Boll, a familiar name to Blue Jackets fans, also earned his extension. Once a bruising forward for the franchise, Boll has transitioned smoothly into coaching. After five years as a development coach, he joined the NHL bench for the 2023-24 season. Known for his physical style during his playing days, Boll now uses his experience to mentor Columbus’s younger players in a new way.

Steve McCarthy, the most seasoned coach among the trio, continues to guide the team’s defense. He previously spent five years with the Blue Jackets’ AHL affiliate in Cleveland before joining the NHL staff in 2021. McCarthy’s playing days took him through 300+ NHL games with teams like Chicago, Atlanta, and Vancouver, and that breadth of experience has translated well behind the bench.

By bringing these coaches back, Columbus is showing confidence in the group tasked with helping the team develop and grow, on and off the ice. The Blue Jackets may be a team in transition, but behind the bench, they’ve chosen stability over change.

Image Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

Columbus Blue Jackets

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Anamika Shrivastava

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I’ve always loved writing and storytelling, and hockey gives me a perfect stage for endless stories to tell. Whether it’s breaking down a game, analyzing a big trade, or capturing the emotions on the ice, I bring the NHL to life through words. So what’s the best part you ask? Watching the action unfold and turning it into something fans can connect with. To my readers: Hockey is more than just a game—it’s the highs, the heartbreaks, and the moments that make us jump off our seats. So, keep cheering, keep debating, and never stop loving the madness of the sport!