The stars will have a new head coach next season.
Rick Bownes retired as coach of the Stars on Friday afternoon, the team announced, days after the Stars season ended with a loss in the first round of Calgary on Sunday. Bownes’ contract expired after this season.
The Stars also announced that three assistant coaches will not return next season: Derek Laxdale, John Stevens and Todd Nelson. Laxdale managed the team’s strong play, Stevens handled the team’s defenders, and Nelson acted as the club’s “eye in the sky” in the press box during the games.
Video coach Kelly Forbes, assistant video coach Matt Rodell and goalkeeping coach Jeff Reese were not affected by Friday’s moves. Stars general manager Jim Neal said the search for a new head coach will begin immediately.
“After careful consideration with my wife Judy, we think it’s best to step back and allow the organization to pursue a different direction as head coach,” Bownes said in a statement.
“I would like to thank all the passionate fans and dedicated staff for their support and hard work here. It was an honor for me and my family to represent the stars and the city of Dallas. ”
The 67-year-old Bownes has coached Stars for three seasons since taking office when Jim Montgomery was sacked in December 2019. Under Bownes Stars he was 89-62-25, a percentage of 0.577 points, which was 16- and in the NHL.
In the playoffs, Bownes led the stars to the Stanley Cup final in 2020 and a record 18-16 after the season. This season, the Stars lost in seven games against the Flames.
“Rick is one of the most respected and loved personalities to ever train in the NHL,” Neil said in a statement. “His dedication and dedication to the game, as well as the impact he has had on countless players, coaches and support staff over the five decades of the League, are incomparable. He has dedicated his life to our game and we are honored to say that Dallas Stars is part of his legacy.
“When he was called to lead our team a few seasons ago, he took on the role without any problems and helped our team lead through unprecedented global events that affected our players and staff both on and off the ice. On behalf of the entire organization, I want to wish Rick, Judy, and the rest of their family nothing but the best in the future.
Bowness has coached more NHL games than anyone else in league history, either as an assistant or as head coach. The presented and generally casual Bowness was popular among the players of Stars. Friday’s announcement was not about retirement from Bownes, who said earlier this week that “there is still a lot of fire in me.”
The Bownes era will be remembered mostly for running to the Balloon Cup final in Edmonton and the strange circumstances he had to deal with for three seasons at the helm. He took office after the mysterious dismissal of Montgomery in 2019. He tackled the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. There were many coronavirus outbreaks on the Stars list. He passed the 2021 season, which was filled with injuries to top players.
His time will be marked by a lack of insults.
The stars ranked 30th in the NHL under Bownes with 2.13 goals in 60 minutes at 5 on 5. They were an average team that generated chances of average to below average quality and finished those chances as one of the most the bad teams in the league.
The young offensive weapons struggled to gain the trust of the coaching staff due to inconsistent play and poor decisions. Older defensive-minded players had longer leashes despite the lack of offensive output.
The Stars were also one of the best defensive teams in the league under Bownes, unless they defended the lead.
Dallas finished in third place, conceding just 2.19 goals in 60 minutes at 5 on 5. They were the top 10 team in terms of shots allowed and the top 5 team in terms of expected goals and conceded goal chances. They combined strong defense with the strong defense of Ben Bishop and Anton Hudobin 2019-20, as well as the recent appearance of Jake Oettinger.
While it may be logical to think that an attacking coach is on his way to Dallas to follow Bownes’ defense-oriented approach, Neil said earlier this week that a defensive identity will still be crucial for Stars.
“Should we score more?” Neil said Tuesday. “Yes, and this is something we need to build on and find, but you can’t lose that identity. You will not win in this league, you just will not win. “
In the last three seasons, when Jamie Ben and Tyler Sagin refused, Bownes and his team struggled to find answers to generate more attacks outside the superb top of Jason Robertson, Rup Hinz and Joe Pavelsky. Problems with the result remain and it will be up to Neil to ensure the right players and the next coach to put them in the right positions.
Friday’s decision also raises the future of the Nile. The next head coach will be the fifth hired with Neil as Stars GM, after Lindy Ruff, Ken Hitchcock, Montgomery and Bowness.
Neil has only one year left on his contract, a situation that a new coach would not want to enter, knowing that their boss can only stay for one season. Does the search for coaching point to an extension for Nill?
Neil created a good Stars with a core centered around Robertson, Oettinger, Hinz and Miro Heiskanen. The promising Dallas pool has top-class players like Wyatt Johnston and Maurice Burke, who could join the NHL next season. Ben and Seguin’s contracts are undoubtedly eye-popping, and veterans’ contracts may be too long for a season or two, but the recent drafting of the Nile could lead him to lead the next window of controversy for the Stars.
Related: What happens to Stars if Rick Bowness, Jim Neal don’t return in 2022-23?
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