Many wondered if Game 7 between the Dallas Stars and Calgary Flames last weekend would be the end of Rick Bowness’ NHL coaching career.
Turns out, it very much could be.
According to ESPN’s Kevin Weekes, Rick Bowness is stepping down as coach of the Dallas Stars effective immediately.
Bowness, 67, took over the coaching job originally on an interim basis after Jim Montogmery was let go in 2019. Bowness had been a coach on numerous other occasions, earning his first NHL coaching job with Boston in 1991-92 before stints with Ottawa, the New York Islanders and Phoenix Coyotes. He also served as an assistant or associate with Vancouver and Tampa Bay.
Bowness led the Stars to the Stanley Cup final in 2020, the team’s return to the final after winning the Cup in 1999.
Bowness played 173 games over seven seasons in the NHL, recording 55 points as a winger with Atlanta, Detroit, St. Louis and Winnipeg.