Blue Jackets fire coach; more moves likely - USA TODAY

By Kevin Allen, USA TODAY

Updated

The last-place Columbus Blue Jackets became the seventh NHL team this season to fire their coach when Scott Arniel was relieved of his duties and replaced by interim coach Todd Richards, who will be behind the bench Tuesday at Chicago.

By Jay LaPrete, AP

Scott Arniel was the fifth coach in Columbus Blue Jackets history.

The Blue Jackets, who made bold moves this summer in an effort to make the playoffs, have the league's worst record of 11-25-5. The firing came the morning after the Blue Jackets lost 7-4 to an Anaheim team that was just above them in the standings.

The St. Louis Blues (Ken Hitchcock), Montreal Canadiens (Randy Cunneyworth), Los Angeles Kings (Darryl Sutter), Washington Capitals (Dale Hunter), Anaheim Ducks (Bruce Boudreau) and Carolina Hurricanes (Kirk Muller) are the other teams that have named new coaches since the start of the season.

Richards, 45, was the Minnesota Wild coach last season and had been a Columbus assistant coach since the start of this season.

Arniel was named the Blue Jackets' fifth coach on June 8, 2010, and had a 45-60-18 record in his brief tenure.

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