Bowness is honored to coach the Jets again

WINNIPEG – Of all the things that were said at Rick Bowness' retirement press conference on Monday, the Moncton native hit a home run with this one.

“I couldn't have picked a better place to come back and finish my career.”

Bowness retired from his playing days in 1984, began his career as a full-time assistant coach with the Winnipeg Jets at age 28, and retired as the Jets bench boss at age 69.

In all, Bowness has coached eight different franchises and been behind the bench in 17 playoff games, including a trip to the Finals as an assistant coach with the Vancouver Canucks in 2011, as an assistant with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2015 and as head coach of the Dallas Stars in 2020. He is one of three head coaches (along with Scotty Bowen and Pat Quinn) to serve behind the bench in five different decades. His 2,726 games as an NHL coach are the most in league history.

“We have great players. I've been fortunate to have a great coaching staff. All the accolades in the All-Star Game and the nomination, man, the players and coaches that got me there. As I've said a couple of times, how many coaches can take November off and be where we are. ((laughs)) Bowness said.

“The coaches and players deserve all the credit for that. I'm glad to be back. It is an honor to coach the Winnipeg Jets again.”

The announcement comes less than a week after the Jets saw their season end in five games at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Bowness said he knew it was over as he walked off the ice at the Canada Life Center last Tuesday.

“I didn't like — I didn't like — the way our team played, that's for me. So, I'm not happy with myself, I'm not happy that we lost, it bothered me. But when I stood there and looked around, it hit me,” Bowness said.

“Coaches always tell me – and I'm talking to coaches who are older than me – and they always say, 'You'll know when the time comes.' “Looking around, I'm not happy with what I've done, and it just hit me, 'It's time.'”

Bowness told the coaching staff his plans immediately after 5 games.

“Yeah, obviously it was after the game, and he came back from talking to the media and caught us all a little bit off guard. He and I talked a lot throughout the season, and I knew health issues were a big part of his decision. But at the end of the day, it was still tough to hear it,” said assistant coach Scott Arniel.

“And I'm probably the one who said, 'Get some sleep, maybe we'll talk here later.' We talked, I think it was Thursday again, and then he was convinced that he still had enough. And he's coming out with his own claims and a fantastic career.”

Bowness couldn't talk to every player on the Jets roster, but did talk to the leadership group, Adam Lowry, Mark Scheifele, Josh Morrissey and Connor Helleick. He also saw Vladislav Namestnikov and told the news. Lowry, Namestnikov and new dad Mason Appleton attended a press conference this afternoon. Lowry Bowness talked about how he left the organization in a better place.

“He's done a good job of making everyone like him a big part of the team, whether he's playing five minutes, whether he's in and out of the lineup or whether he's on the first line, the first power play. I think he's trying to elevate the assistant coaches, but he's giving everyone in our room a chance. He talked about wanting to make an impact in our lives and he's a great role model,” Lowry said.

“You can see the love he has for Judy and the way he has to leave to take care of Judy and the emotions. The number of things he was willing to sacrifice to come to Winnipeg, to come to a place where he mumbled that we weren't in such a great place, right? So. A wonderful person. This group, I don't think we're as far off as the results show. I think Rick played a big part in that.”

Cheveldeiff also discussed the influence Bowness had on him.

“I think I appreciate the National Hockey League and what it means to be in the National Hockey League, being around Rick and how he carries himself and what he talks about and the presence he brings,” Cheveldayoff said.

“To be able to watch his relationship with the players, to see how he talked to the players, to see how he would deliver the hard news to the players that they wouldn't be known for, his compassion and his relatability, that's what Bones has always been and he's been real.”

Bowness arrives ahead of the 2022-23 campaign, coming off a season in which the Jets missed the playoffs. In two years, he helped turn the team around defensively, allowing three or fewer goals in 35 consecutive games (Nov. 4/23 – Jan. 20/24), a franchise record. During that stretch, they set a club record 14 game streak without allowing more than two goals (December 20/23 – January 20/24). Winnipeg didn't end up with a Stanley Cup championship, but the 69-year-old changed the culture and got the team on the right track.

“And then you see the team play, which I talk about a lot, how good it looks, and then the players feel good about that team play, and that's how we're going to win, and we just fell short of everything. Our goals and our players are disappointed like all of us, they have to go out every night and work and compete and make shots,” said Bowness.

“They're the ones paying the price, so they're disappointed. But there is growth here. You accept positive feedback, “Okay, we're better than that.” Now last year at the end of the year, “Oh my God, we've got to fix some more stuff.” And they did before training camp even started. This summer they will grow again. They will, and they'll be a good team for it next year.”