Pascal Vincent: A Coach who Transformed from Adversity – Hockey Writer – Montreal Canadian
What's the difference in a year? This statement cannot be more applicable to individuals than Pascal Vincent, the former head coach of Columbus blue jacket.
It can be said that another statement reflects Vincent’s time with the Blue Jacket. “Life comes to you quickly.” For him, it was a speed of multiple times.
Vincent was hired to replace Mike Babcock a few days before the start of the Blue Jackets training camp in September 2023, when GM Jarmo Kekalainen was pulled aside and told him that there was news that he had fulfilled his dream of becoming the head coach of the NHL for the rest of his life.
Of course, that was not the original plan. Vincent serves as an associate coach at Blue Jackets. He worked with Babcock in the summer to prepare for the season.
As recorded, Babcock did not even enter the camp after being hired by Blue Jackets. He quit his team's resignation just days before the camp began when he asked to view the photos on his phone.
Blue Jackets held its annual Media Day press conference and publicly admitted that they had hired babcock. This puts the focus directly on Vincent's shoulders and becomes the team's new head coach.
It would be an understatement to say things are not going as planned. It was a tough season for Vincent, while the Blue Jacket was a season in multiple levels.
Despite higher expectations for the new season, the Blue Jacket struggled but never found its foothold. Strange decisions were made, including substitute Johnny Gaudreau, and then healthy Patrik Laine, for the first time in his career.
Ultimately, Blue Jacket fired Kekalainen a few weeks before the 2024 NHL trade deadline. In a statement, then-President John Davidson said: “It was one of the hardest days of my career because Jarmo was a friend, I respected me and there were many great things in his time. While the future of our club is bright, we were not doing well enough and we were moving forward.
Vincent ended the season. The Blue Jackets scored its fourth record in the NHL. Vincent is still the head coach while looking for a new general manager. After the regular season, he conducted an exit interview in April.
Vincent is in trouble. Will he continue to be the head coach after the new general manager is hired? Or will they bring their own head coach? The answer will not be disclosed within two months.
Vincent is still involved
The Blue Jacket season is over. But their AHL member, Cleveland Monsters, are in the midst of a serious playoffs. They keep making it to the Eastern Conference Finals.
During that run, the Blue Jacket finally decided on the identity of the next general manager. The team hired Don Waddell on May 28 after spending several seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Wadell immediately said when hiring that he would take the time to know everyone before making any decisions. That means at least the beginning, Vincent is still the head coach of the Blue Jackets.
In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Monsters trailed Hershey 3-0. They beat the game 3-2 in Game 5 on Saturday, June 8 in Cleveland.
Monsters won Game 5 with a 5-1 score, sending the series back to Hershey. But it was after that game that interesting things were observed.
After the game, the Blue Jacket Management Team walked to the locker room. The group is Coach Vincent. Waddell was hired for only 11 days and Vincent actively participated in the team. Maybe he has a chance to stay?
Not so fast. Just nine days after Game 5, Wadell decided to fire Vincent one season later. Similarly, life can come to you quickly.
This is what Waddell said when he decided to fire Vincent. “When I spent the last few weeks with Pascal, I found him to be an outstanding guy and a smart hockey coach who worked very hard last year in tough situations, but I believe the change behind the bench is the best interest of our team. On behalf of Pascal, I would like to thank Pascal for his work quality, professionalism and contribution to his three seasons in the Blue Jacket.”
While it is unclear what factors contributed to the decision, it is clear that the blue jacket is looking to start over. For Vincent, his tenure as head coach is as challenging as his recent memory. It's fair to wonder what's next after a season full of all kinds of adversity you can imagine.
What's the difference in one year
Blue Jacket continues to hire Dean Evason. For Vincent, he didn't have a long job. He remains a great and respected coach. But it's obvious that his next role will be a step backwards.
One month after being fired from the Blue Jacket, Vincent was hired as the new head coach of Laval Rocket, a Montreal Canadian’s AHL branch.
The 2024-25 season reminds everyone of Coach Vincent's performance. He led the Rockets to the MacGregor Kilpatrick trophy, the team with the highest score or highest score. They tied with Syracuse Crunch for the minimum goals allowed by the AHL.
This led to Vincent winning the AHL Coach of the Year Award this season. This is the second time in his career he has won this award. He won the head coach of the Manitoba Moose in 2017-18.
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On Friday night, just 11 months after the head coach of the Blue Jackets crossed the Rockets’ Arena’s lobby, Vincent led the Rockets to a convincing 4-0 victory in their 5-game bests in the Monsters’ 5 bests, putting them on the brink of elimination. What's the difference in a year.
The hockey writer caught up with coach Vincent on Friday night to reflect on his season in a blue jacket. In our five-minute conversation with him, two things are clear. First of all, he is very happy now. Then, thanks to his time in Columbus, he was a better coach today.
“I still have the opportunity to feel very honored,” Vincent said. It wasn't an easy task four days before training camp, but despite that, what I learned in the National Hockey League last year, you have to wear these shoes to learn them. I learned a lot and that made me a better coach now. nice one. I learned good things. I learned something I wouldn't do anymore. So I'm honest and trying to be very objective about what we do. It was a tough, tough situation from beginning to end, but I am very grateful for the opportunity. ”
Vincent will never forget one of his seasons as Blue Jackets brought him one of them. Even today, he is happy that fans see the team seems to be on the rise.
“I’m happy for their season,” Vincent said. “I’m thinking about young people, what we started last year and what we grew last year, even if it’s hard to see where we are now. But today, twenty-four months later, I’m happy for the fans. In the future, this is what we were last year and I think a step this year will be better.
Adversity in life may be something that someone has on the springboard. Vincent said he has grown a lot due to the adversity he faced in 2023-24. He felt even more prepared for his second chance as head coach in the NHL. How much has he prepared?
Vincent said, “Oh, it's not even close yet. It's not even close yet.” I think everything that could have gone wrong last year was wrong. I think I have grown a lot in just one year. Even this summer, working with (Babcock) all summer, then having the team work, then having to figure out the coaching staff for the last second and dealing with the injuries and everything that happened this season, I've grown a lot. So this is my coach a year ago and today’s coach, and I feel like I’ve grown up for ten years. ”
Laval running and running
The monster must play the best 3 goals to win the right to play the Rockets. In the first two games of the series, the Rockets did not allow the monsters to score a 5-on-5 goal.
Vincent lets them play a fast and aggressive style. In his opinion, seeing what they get is a comprehensive commitment.
“Well, what do you know? It's a combination of different things,” Vincent said. “We ranked No. 1 in the league in goals this year, which is a big reason why we got No. 1 in the league in the rankings. It's the promise of all our players. First of all, we're very positive, it's my coaching style. It's my offensive. And it's very aggressive. Players with and without hockey. All the players are put into it. We defended on the ice on five tracks on the ice. We're giving us a track on the ice, we're fighting for odd miscellaneous things, we're fighting for odd miscellaneous things, we're fighting for more and more miscellaneous things, we're fighting for odd miscellaneous things, we're fighting for odd miscellaneous things, we're fighting for more and more miscellaneous things, we're competing on the ice. We think everything is working hard.
Le Rocket Quitte Cleveland Avec Une Avance de 2-0 Dans serie
Rockets lead Cleveland 2-0 in the series
– XYZ – Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) May 3, 2025
Even though Cayden Primeau received a call from the Canadian, the Rockets did not miss a single step. Goalkeeper Jacob Fowler comes in and closes the monster's door. Vincent was impressed by what Fowler saw in the early days.
“It's really impressive. Young man, but it seems he looks comfortable in French. We have a very inclusive room. So that guy walked in and they made him feel like he's been part of a team since day one. So that was number one. It's a good attitude. He has a good attitude. He's a very good teammate. He's a very talented guy. He has him.”
The final thought
The 2023-24 season of the Blue Jacket is rough on many levels. Vincent was thrown into the fire before Camp tried to prepare for the season. It's early and often busy and chaotic. It's hard for everyone involved.
If he had his own way on Sunday, Vincent could win the Monsters season in Game 3.
But through adversity, Vincent learned important lessons and he applied to himself today to make him a better coach. More than ever, he is preparing for another shot in the NHL.
It will be a tough season for Columbus in all years of his career, and Vincent will remember the most. This gave him the lessons and adversity he needed to be a better coach today. 2024 – The 25th year of Laval Rockets proves that he has brought these lessons to his heart.
