Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff and Bowness held a press conference Monday morning, where Bowness fielded questions about his decision. He said heading into the postseason, he wasn’t seriously considering a return to coaching and turned down three assistant coaching offers from teams that weren’t able to win. “I wasn’t going to go back into coaching for the sake of coaching. I didn’t need a job – I don’t need a job. I want to have a chance to win,” he said. “What I wanted to do was work with a good team that has a chance and this team has a chance.” On Sunday, the NHL team announced Bowness as its new head coach, taking over for Dave Lowry, who was named interim head coach. after the resignation of Paul Maurice in December after nearly nine years as the Jets’ head coach. Maurice is now the coach of the Florida Panthers. Bowness, 67, comes to Winnipeg after spending most of the last three NHL seasons with the Dallas Stars, where he posted an 89-62-25 record in 176 regular season games and led the team to the 2020 Stanley Cup Final. That shows Bowness’ ability as a coach, Cheveldayoff said. “You don’t take a team to the Stanley Cup [final] just by luck,” the GM said. Winnipeg jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, left, hands a Jets ‘Bowness’ jersey to new head coach Rick Bowness during a news conference Monday. (John Woods/The Canadian Press) However, Cheveldayoff referred to the fact that Bowness was not his first choice for the job. Barry Trotz, Winnipeg native and former New York Islanders coach; recently turned down a coaching offer from the Jets. But Bowness said he has no hard feelings about being second in line. “Listen, if I’m in [Cheveldayoff’s] chair, I’ll go after Trotsey too,” said Bones. “I would do the same thing.” Cheveldayoff said Bowness was his immediate second choice because of his major league experience, easy-going and engaging personality and because he knows he will hold the team accountable. “Rick’s a guy who’s going to get here … not a ‘my way or the highway’ guy.” [approach]but it’s a strong approach to get this team back on track,” Cheveldayoff said. “Rick’s the guy I think is up for the challenge.” He also confirmed that Scott Arniel – whom Bowness coached in Winnipeg and Boston – will join the Jets as an assistant coach. Arniel played for the Jets in the 1980s and later for the Manitoba Moose before returning to coach that team. He has held numerous head coaching and assistant coaching gigs in the NHL over the past two decades.
Team ‘lost their way last year’: Bowness
Bones’ career included stints with Atlanta, Detroit, St. Louis and Winnipeg. He played and coached for the Jets organization for nine seasons in the 1980s. That included a season as player-coach for the Jets AHL affiliate in Sherbrooke, Que., in 1982-83 before retiring and moving to an assistant coaching position with Winnipeg next season. He also briefly coached the Jets in 1989. New Winnipeg Jets head coach Rick Bowness speaks to the media after a news conference in Winnipeg on Monday. (John Woods/The Canadian Press) Bones said now that he’s back, he’s committed to making Winnipeg a playoff team again after the Jets finished with a 39-32-11 record and failed to make the playoffs last season. Part of the job will include tough conversations, communicating expectations with players and cultivating a positive attitude in the locker room, he said. Bones said he’s excited to go to work. “This is a very good hockey club and for whatever reason it lost its way last year, and myself and the coaching staff, when we get it all together, we’re going to work very closely with ownership, management and everybody involved. organization,” he said. “We’re going to get this team back to the playoffs.” WATCHES | Jets introduce new coach Rick Bowness to Winnipeg:
The Winnipeg Jets have a new coach
The Winnipeg Jets reintroduced new head coach Rick Bowness to fans today after the team officially named the former Winnipeg player and coach to lead the team again over the weekend. More from CBC Manitoba:
