Jets head coach Rick Bowness announces his retirement

 

Rick Bowness, the head coach of the Winnipeg Jets, announced his retirement from coaching today, capping 38 NHL seasons. During his two seasons as head coach, the Moncton, New Brunswick native guided the Jets to a 98-57-9 record and two Stanley Cup Playoff appearances.

In 2023-24, Winnipeg set club records for road wins (25), winning streak (eight games, twice: Dec. 30/23-Jan. 11/24 and Apr. 1-18/24), and point streak (14 games: 12-0-2 from Dec. 13/23-Jan.11/24). The Jets also set a franchise record by going 35 consecutive games allowing three goals or fewer (Nov. 4/23-Jan. 20/24). During that stretch, they also set a club record with a 14-game run without allowing more than two goals (Dec. 20/23-Jan. 20/24).

 Their 52 wins matched the franchise record set in 2017-18. Bowness was named a finalist for the 2023-24 Jack Adams Award which is awarded to “the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success”.

The road victories (25), winning streak (eight games, twice: Dec. 30/23-Jan. 11/24 and Apr. 1-18/24), and point streak (14 games: 12-0-2 from Dec. 13/23-Jan. 11/24) were all club records set by Winnipeg in 2023–2024. Additionally, the Jets broke a franchise record by conceding three goals or fewer in 35 straight games (from November 4, 23 to January 20, 24). 

They also established a club record during that period (Dec. 20/23-Jan. 20/24) with a 14-game streak without conceding more than two goals. Their 52 victories were equal to the franchise high achieved in 2017–18. The Jack Adams Award, which goes to "the NHL coach judged to have contributed the most to his team's success," has Bowness on the shortlist for 2023–2024.