Lefebvre replaced on Blue Jackets' staff after opting against vaccine

The Columbus Blue Jackets replaced assistant coach Sylvain Lefebvre on Brad Larsen's staff after he refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine, the team announced Monday.

Steve McCarthy, who's been behind the bench with Columbus' AHL affiliate for the past five seasons, will join the Blue Jackets in place of Lefebvre.

"While we are disappointed, we respect that this decision is a personal one for Sylvain and wish him well," general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said. "We feel fortunate to have an outstanding coach join our club in Steve McCarthy, who has played in this league, won championships as a player, and been an important member of our hockey operations department as an assistant coach in Cleveland."

The Blue Jackets hired Lefebvre in June. He previously worked with the AHL's San Diego Gulls after playing nearly 1,000 games in the NHL from 1989 to 2003.

The NHL sent a memo to all teams in August stating that all hockey operations personnel are required to be fully vaccinated for the 2021-22 season.