Winnipeg Jets coach Rick Bowness is retiring after 38 seasons in the NHL

WINNIPEG, Manitoba – Winnipeg Jets coach Rick Bowness is retiring after 38 seasons in the NHL, a career that included leading the Dallas Stars to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final and more time spent behind the bench than anyone else in the game. league history.

At 69, the oldest head coach in the NHL, Bowness is a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year for the first time after leading the Jets to a franchise-record 52 wins and a second consecutive postseason appearance. in how many seasons at work. The team announced Bowness’ decision about a week since being eliminated in the first round by Colorado.

The Moncton, New Brunswick native has worked 2,726 games as a coach in some capacity, the vast majority as an assistant in various roles since 1984. He is one of only three to coach in five decades, along with Hall of Famer Scotty. Bowman and Pat Quinn.

Bowness and general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff are expected to speak to reporters later in the day in Winnipeg to discuss Bowness’ retirement. It was not immediately clear whether associate head coach Scott Arniel, who played several games this season when Bowness was absent for personal reasons, would be considered a potential successor.

That was Bowness many times, taking over as a mid-season replacement for the original Winnipeg Jets, New York Islanders, Phoenix Coyotes and then the Stars in late 2019. He also coached the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators and had long stints as an assistant with the Vancouver Canucks and Tampa Bay Lightning that included long playoffs.