NHL Breaking News: Rick Bowness Makes Huge Decision About His Future

After a disappointing finish to the 2023-24 season for the Winnipeg Jets, longtime head coach Rick Bowness has decided to hang up the clipboard and head into retirement after close to 40 years behind the bench in the NHL.

Winnipeg Jets head coach Rick Bowness today announced his retirement from coaching after 38 seasons in the @NHL

📰 https://t.co/jlQXkpV6VA pic.twitter.com/PT10NO2MXE
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) May 6, 2024

He goes out as a finalist for this year's Jack Adams Award, handed out to the NHL's top coach.

Bowness finished his two seasons in Winnipeg with a 98-57-9 record, including a breakout 110-point season this year. But his Jets were grounded in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs both times. Their 52 wins in 2023-24 matched the franchise record.

The 69-year-old also coached the original Jets, Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders, Phoenix Coyotes, and Dallas Stars.

Bowness retires as the all-time NHL leader in games coached, with 2,726 games behind the bench. He's also one of only three NHL head coaches (Scotty Bowman and Pat Quinn the others) to serve in five different decades.

He faced a couple of off-the-ice personal issues to deal with this season, including an 11-game leave of absence back in October with his wife facing health problems. He also underwent a minor medical procedure in March that took him off the bench for four more games.

We congratulate Bowness on a terrific career and wish him the best in retirement.