The Winnipeg Jets are one of the last remaining teams in the NHL without a head coach. However, it looks like that is about to change.
A team spokesperson has told The Canadian Press that Rick Bowness is “the person we're focusing on as our next head coach.”
The 67-year-old Bowness was most recently the head coach of the Dallas Stars. He led the team to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2020 but lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Bowness stepped aside as Stars head coach following the 2021-22 season. He stepped down to “allow the organization the opportunity to pursue a different direction at the head coaching position.”
The 67-year-old is fairly familiar with the Jets organization. He played 45 games as a Jet in 1980-81, scoring eight goals and 25 points during that time. He also played a single playoff game with the team in 1981-82, but didn't record a point.
In 1984-85, Bowness became an assistant coach with Winnipeg. This followed a spell as player-head coach of the Sherbrooke Jets AHL team. He was named as head coach of the Moncton Hawks AHL team in 1987-88.
The 67-year-old was brought up mid-season in 1988-89 to be the head coach in Winnipeg. He coached 28 games during that campaign, winning just eight.
Bowness left the Jets organization following that season. He spent time with the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders, and Arizona Coyotes organizations before landing in Dallas in 2020.
Bowness is set to replace interim coach Dave Lowry, who replaced Paul Maurice on an interim basis when Maurice stepped down in December.
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