Winnipeg Jets coach Rick Bowness, who has had a remarkable 38 seasons in the NHL, has announced his retirement. Throughout his career, he led the Dallas Stars to the Stanley Cup Final in 2020 and spent more time behind the bench than any other coach in league history. At 69 years old, Bowness is considered the oldest head coach in the NHL and is a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year.
Bowness coached a total of 2,726 games in various roles dating back to 1984. He is one of only three coaches to work across five decades, joining the ranks of Scotty Bowman and Pat Quinn, both Hall of Famers. Recently, he led the Jets to a franchise-record 52 wins and a second consecutive postseason appearance before being eliminated in the first round by Colorado.
Originally from Moncton, New Brunswick, Bowness served as a midseason replacement for several teams throughout his career, including the original Winnipeg Jets, New York Islanders, Phoenix Coyotes and Dallas Stars in 2019. He also coached the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators while having lengthy stints as an assistant for Vancouver Canucks and Tampa Bay Lightning.
It remains unclear if associate coach Scott Arniel will be considered as a potential successor to Bowness’ position with Winnipeg Jets. Bowness and general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff are scheduled to address media in Winnipeg to discuss Bowness’ retirement.
Bowness’ career was marked by many achievements and milestones that will be missed by players and fans alike. His coaching style was known for his tough love approach that pushed players to be their best on and off the ice. He was also known for his ability to adapt quickly when taking over midseason which made him highly sought after as an interim coach.
As he steps away from coaching after such an impressive career spanning over four decades it’s clear that Bowness will be missed not just by those within hockey but also by those who have come to know him outside of sports.
