Rick Bowness, the Winnipeg Jets head coach, announced his retirement after leading the team to significant success over two seasons, including a record-setting season and being named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award.
Rick Bowness, the head coach of the Winnipeg Jets, just announced his retirement. The news came straight from a team press release. Over the past two seasons, Bowness has been at the helm, guiding the team with notable success. His record? Impressive: 98-57-9.
The Jets made it to the postseason under his watch, not just once, but twice. This season, they soared to a 52-24-6 record. That’s 110 points, folks. It’s the second-highest point total in the team’s history. Plus, they nailed the fourth-best record in the NHL. Records were tied and set, especially with those 52 wins and a whopping 25 road victories.
Just last week, Bowness was in the spotlight again. He was named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award. That’s a big deal, marking him as one of the NHL’s top head coaches. He’s the first from the Jets/Atlanta Thrashers to get this nod.
This season marked Bowness’s 14th as an NHL head coach. Overall, he’s spent 36 years coaching. His journey included stints with the Dallas Stars, Phoenix Coyotes, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, and Boston Bruins. Before Winnipeg, he was with the Stars for three seasons, leading them to a Stanley Cup Final.
However, the Jets’ recent postseason run was cut short. They were eliminated by the Colorado Avalanche in just five games. Quite the journey for Bowness, ending with a mix of highs and lows.
