Rick Bowness came out of retirement to become the next head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets, returning to the NHL after stepping away last year because of health concerns for himself and his wife. The 70-year-old was hired after the Blue Jackets reached out to him about their coaching vacancy.
Bowness said he would not have left the game if not for those issues. “Without these issues, I would have never left,” he said. The move sends him back behind an NHL bench after a career that has already stretched across seven different teams and more than 2,700 games as an assistant, associate or head coach.
Don Waddell, the Blue Jackets’ general manager, believed Bowness’ experience and leadership could help turn the team around. Bowness also previously coached the Winnipeg Jets, and his head coaching record stands at 309-408-37 with 48 ties. He also played 173 NHL games as a center, giving him a perspective on the sport that spans both sides of the bench.
The Blue Jackets have struggled to find consistency this season, and Bowness’ return at 70 raises the obvious question of how long he can handle the grind of an NHL schedule. Bowness and Waddell agreed that the current season is the priority, and they will assess the situation after the Olympic break before deciding what comes next for the future of the coaching job.
For Columbus, the hire is a bet on steadiness and accountability from the NHL’s most experienced coach. For Bowness, it is a return driven by a call from a team in need and a willingness to take one more turn at a job he had already left.
