Winnipeg Jets Hire New Head Coach

After Barry Trotz turned them down earlier this month, the Winnipeg Jets went back out on their search, and have finally hired their new head coach: Rick Bowness. 

The Winnipeg Jets and veteran coach Rick Bowness are working on finalizing his agreement to be the next coach of the Jets. This will end a thorough interview process for the @NHLJets that began with Barry Trotz as the target. Experience a key factor here.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 1, 2022

The Jets were set on hiring a coach with experience, as noted by TSN's Darren Dreger. Which leads ESPN NHL Insider Greg Wyshynski to suggest that they couldn't trust a head coaching newbie to take on such a veteran core of players. 

Winnipeg has a veteran core that runs the room. When I hear "experience is a factor" in hiring Rick Bowness, coaching since the Mesozoic Era, it tells me they don't trust an excellent candidate with no NHL head coaching experience like Pascal Vincent with managing that core, IMO.

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) July 1, 2022

The 67-year-old Bowness has 2,562 games behind the bench as an assistant or head coach, which is the most in NHL history, notes Wyshynski.

He stepped down as coach of the Dallas Stars back in May, citing a need to "pursue a different direction at the head coaching position." He led the Stars to a 89-62-25 record in three seasons. 

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