Legendary NHL Coach Rick Bowness Retires After 38 Seasons, Achieving Success with the Winnipeg Jets

Winnipeg Jets coach Rick Bowness is retiring after a successful 38-season career in the NHL. During his time with the Jets, he achieved a franchise record of 52 wins and led the team to their second consecutive postseason appearance. Despite being eliminated in the first round by Colorado, Bowness decided to retire after a successful coaching career.

At 69 years old, Bowness is the oldest head coach in the NHL and is currently a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year. He began his coaching journey in 1984 and has worked with several NHL teams throughout his career, including the Winnipeg Jets, New York Islanders, Phoenix Coyotes, Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators and Vancouver Canucks. He also served as an assistant for Tampa Bay Lightning during successful playoff runs.

Bowness is one of only three coaches to have worked across five decades, joining Hall of Famers Scotty Bowman and Pat Quinn. The Jets announced Bowness’ retirement shortly after their playoff elimination and it remains unclear if associate coach Scott Arniel will be considered as a potential successor.