Bowness tapped to direct Jets

<p>LM OTERO / ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO</p><p>Rick Bowness took the Dallas Stars to the Stanley Cup final in 2020 during his latest stint as an NHL head coach.</p> — LM OTERO / Related Press FILE Picture

Rick Bowness took the Dallas Stars to the Stanley Cup closing in 2020 in the course of his most up-to-date stint as an NHL head coach.

Say this about Accurate North: They unquestionably have a sort. In tabbing the properly-travelled Rick Bowness to be the up coming head coach of the Winnipeg Jets — a move predicted to become official at some level this weekend — the firm checks off a lot of packing containers we know are very critical to them.

1st and foremost, you’ll be challenging-pressed to find a far better human. The 67-calendar year-old New Brunswick products identified as “Bones” is beloved and respected all around the league, and there’s no question the Jets are thrilled to have him as the next facial area of the franchise. No one buys tickets to check out the men in suits, but Bowness (like his predecessor, Paul Maurice) is a to start with-class salesman who will be at simplicity working with the media and lovers in a hockey-crazed industry like Winnipeg.

Next, there is the experience aspect. Alternatively than hand the keys to some youthful up-and-comer, the Jets are turning to a person who has been behind an NHL bench for most of the earlier 4 many years. Much more than 2,500 standard-time game titles, in truth, as both a head mentor, affiliate or assistant. He actually has been there, accomplished that and viewed it all. And then some.

Thirdly, there are deep roots in spot. Bowness finished his NHL career in Winnipeg, appearing in 45 games during the 1980-81 year. He invested two more many years on the farm with the Sherbrooke Jets, the place he was bitten by the coaching bug. He was back with the Jets in 1984-85 as an assistant, paying 3 a long time right before using the reins of his hometown Moncton Hawks of the AHL for pieces of two years, then introduced again to the large leagues by Winnipeg in 1988-89 for element of the year as head coach.

The using the services of of Bowness may well be a surprise, presented that his name wasn’t among the greatly noted shorter list of candidates who emerged more than the earlier 7 days following the major alternative, Barry Trotz, turned down the job. Supplied the basis and construction of the corporation that is now about to utilize him, it will make best feeling.

It is a awesome story, for certain. A delighted homecoming of sorts. But at the risk of pouring cold drinking water all in excess of this heartwarming advancement, there’s just one other box that need to trump all others — profitable. And the jury is extremely significantly out as to irrespective of whether Bowness, at this phase of his existence, is the proper guy to get the work done.

<p>MICHEAK RAINE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES</p><p>Rick Bowness cut his teeth as an NHL coach with the Winnipeg Jets in 1989.</p> — MICHEAK RAINE / WINNIPEG Free of charge Push Data files

Rick Bowness slash his enamel as an NHL coach with the Winnipeg Jets in 1989.

A occupation head coaching document of just 211-351-76 with nary a championship ring does not particularly inspire significantly self esteem. It should really be noted his numbers are skewed by four seasons at the helm of the lowly Ottawa Senators, starting up with their entry into the NHL in 1992. There wasn’t substantially to get the job done with there. Similar with the New York Islanders in the late 1990s and a quick interim stint in Phoenix in 2002-03.

Bowness’ recent do the job is additional encouraging. He took about Dallas for the duration of the 2019-20 period after Jim Montgomery was fired for “unprofessional perform,” and he led the Stars all the way to the Stanley Cup Closing that calendar year inside of the Edmonton bubble, ultimately falling to Tampa Bay (in which he’d used the previous 5 several years as the appropriate-hand guy to Jon Cooper). Dallas just skipped the playoffs throughout the truncated 2021 marketing campaign, but designed it as a wild-card this previous 12 months but were overwhelmed by Calgary in a tricky-fought 7 recreation first round collection.

Bowness then stepped down, and there was belief he was all set to retire following compiling an general history in Texas of 89-62-25. Not so quick, apparently. Nonetheless some fuel still left in the ol’ tank.

There’s no question he’s a potent communicator who puts a big emphasis on tidy engage in in the defensive zone — some thing the Jets have been soundly missing for many a long time. They would have got that in spades with anyone of Trotz’s pedigree, and hope Bowness can now deliver it with him to city.

He’s also shown an potential to get the job done properly with proven superstars and promising youthful gamers. Dallas was constructed around a veteran main with the likes of captain Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin and Alexander Radulov, with young forwards this kind of as Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz step by step getting on larger roles. Which is not in contrast to the present dynamic with the likes of Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler now being challenged for ice time from the likes of Pierre-Luc Dubois, Kyle Connor and Nikolaj Ehlers, among some others.

There’s also some blue-line comparables, with the Jets possessing many promising youthful players these types of as Ville Heinola, Dylan Samberg, Johnathan Kovacevic and Declan Chisholm ripening on the vine. Bowness surely knows the price of leaning on youthful defencemen with the likes of Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell coming on sturdy the past number of many years.

Will it be more than enough? How various could possibly Winnipeg’s roster seem when the puck drops on a new period in October?

This is a Jets club at a crossroads, obtaining missed the playoffs for the seventh time in 11 seasons. By the conclusion, fans have been indignant. And players, too, with lots of community grumbling and finger-pointing suggesting loads was amiss. Maurice pulled the plug in the center of the yr, and interim coach Dave Lowry was unable to right what appeared to be a sinking ship.

Now the work turns to Bowness, who may well want to have a lifetime preserver or two helpful.

Scheifele appears to want out. Wheeler is reportedly open up to a adjust of surroundings. Dubois has manufactured it crystal clear he wishes to exam the free agent waters when he’s eligible two summers from now, instead than indication a long-expression extension. Toss in the point 2019-20 Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck is also a UFA in two years, and there are alarm bells ringing all more than the place ideal now.

This all-crucial off-year obtained off to an unsightly start when the Jets went all-in on Trotz, only to have him say “Thanks, but no thanks.” Ten other groups filled their coaching positions in the meantime as Winnipeg scrambled to locate a acceptable Program B. A resource explained to the Free of charge Press earlier this 7 days they ended up focusing on former NHLer Rick Tocchet, and ESPN’s Kevin Weekes described on Thursday night time the club experienced produced him a deal offer you he was mulling more than.