Former Jets head coach Rick Bowness lands new coaching job

The Winnipeg Jets and Rick Bowness parted ways after the 2024 season when the former bench boss decided to retire from the game to focus on his health.

After retiring Bowness was replaced not long after by current Jets head coach Scott Arniel.

At the time of his retirement, many assumed that Bowness' time as an NHL head coach had come to an end and that he would enjoy his retirement with little if any return to the world of hockey.

However, according to new reports, Bowness will return to the NHL once again as a head coach as he has been named the new bench boss for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

This evening the Columbus Blue Jackets announced they would be parting ways with now former head coach Dean Evason.

In his place, the Blue Jackets named Rick Bowness as the permanent head coach.

Bowness will now head to Columbus and try to turn around the last place Blue Jackets and provide an injection of excitement and hope for the future.

At 70 years old Bowness will now become the oldest head coach in the NHL placing his long-term future with the club in doubt.

As the season goes on, it will be interesting to see if the Blue Jackets see Bowness as a multi-year head coach or just an interim option to get things back on track.