Rick Bowness, head coach of the Winnipeg Jets, officially announced his retirement from the NHL on Monday, culminating a remarkable career spanning nearly five decades as both a player and coach.
Bowness’s decision to retire followed the Jets’ recent elimination by the Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The 69-year-old coach received recognition this season as a Jack Adams Award finalist for the first time in his 14-year tenure as a head coach. In response to Bowness’s retirement, the Jets expressed their sentiments, stating, “Hockey won’t be the same without you, Bones.”
During a press conference on Monday, Bowness reflected on his decision, citing advice from seasoned coaches who had long predicted that he would intuitively recognize the right moment to retire. “When I was looking around after losing to Colorado… I wasn’t happy with the job I had done,” Bowness admitted. “It just hit me then, like, ‘It’s time.'”
Bowness shared that shortly after this realization, he informed his coaching staff of his retirement decision. Despite their surprised reaction, he remained resolute in his choice. Over his career, Bowness compiled a record of 310-408-37 (with 48 ties) across 803 games with seven different teams, including two stints with Winnipeg. His coaching career began in 1988-89 when he served as the interim head coach for the original Jets franchise following the dismissal of Dan Maloney.
Notably, Bowness guided the Dallas Stars to the Stanley Cup Final in 2020 as the interim head coach, a feat that underscored his coaching prowess and experience. Throughout his coaching journey, Bowness also led teams such as the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders, and Phoenix Coyotes.
In his recent tenure with the Jets, Bowness achieved significant milestones, including a second-place finish in the Central Division this season and a remarkable 15-point improvement from the previous year. Reflecting on his return to coaching and the conclusion of his career with the Jets, Bowness expressed gratitude to his wife and highlighted the disappointment of not advancing further with the team.
Rick Bowness’s legacy extends beyond coaching, as he holds the distinction of being one of only three NHL coaches, alongside Scotty Bowman and Pat Quinn, to have served behind the bench in five different decades. Before embarking on his coaching career, Bowness enjoyed a stint as a forward, amassing 55 points (18 goals, 37 assists) in 173 NHL games from 1975-81 with the Atlanta Flames, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, and Jets.
