Rick Bowness: The Hockey Lifer Who Just Couldn't Stay Retired
He was supposed to be done. Finished. Enjoying the Florida sun after a lifetime behind the bench. But for Rick Bowness, the silence of retirement was apparently louder than a sold-out arena. Here is why the NHL's ultimate survivor is back.
⚡ The Essentials
- The News: The Columbus Blue Jackets have fired Dean Evason and hired Rick Bowness (70) as head coach.
- The Context: Columbus is sitting last in the Eastern Conference, a season spiraling out of control.
- The Record: Bowness holds the all-time NHL record for most games coached (head + assistant) and had retired in May 2024.
Picture this: It is May 2024. Rick Bowness stands before the media in Winnipeg, emotions visible on his face, announcing the end of a coaching marathon that started in the 1980s. He is going home. He is going to be a grandfather, a husband, a golfer. The book is closed, right?
Wrong. In the world of professional hockey, ink never really dries.
This Monday, January 12, 2026, the hockey world woke up to a stunner. The Columbus Blue Jackets, a team currently drifting aimlessly at the bottom of the standings, pressed the panic button. Dean Evason is out. And who walks through the door to pick up the pieces? The man who has seen it all. Rick Bowness is back behind an NHL bench (again).
The Drug of the Locker Room
Why? That is the question everyone is asking today. Why leave the comfort of a Florida retirement to take over a team struggling to string two wins together? The answer lies in the unique psychology of a "lifer".
For people like Bowness, the routine of the game—the morning skate, the video sessions, the adrenaline of the third period—is not just a job. It is a biological rhythm. When you have coached over 2,700 games (a league record, by the way), normal life can feel strangely flat. Don Waddell, the Jackets' GM, didn't just hire a coach; he hired an addiction to the game.
“Rick Bowness is a tremendous coach with invaluable experience... he will bring a steadiness to our team at an important juncture.” — Don Waddell, Blue Jackets GM
Notice the word "steadiness". That is the key. Columbus doesn't need a revolutionary tactician right now. They are a young team, arguably fragile, reeling from a disappointing season. They need a father figure. Or perhaps, at 70, a grandfather figure.
The "Fixer" Role
Historically, Bowness has often been the guy you call when the house is already on fire. Remember Dallas in 2019? He took over mid-season and dragged them to the Stanley Cup Final in the bubble. He has a knack for simplifying the game when players' heads are spinning.
But let's be realistic (and a bit skeptical). This isn't a team one trade away from glory. The Blue Jackets are in deep waters. Bowness isn't coming in to win the Cup this June. He is coming in to stop the bleeding. He is there to teach the kids how to be professionals, how to defend, and how to survive an 82-game grind without losing their minds.
A Gamble on Experience
Is bringing back a 70-year-old the long-term solution? Probably not. But in the short term, it is a masterclass in crisis management. The players know his résumé. They know he coached guys who are now in the Hall of Fame. That commands instant respect, something that was clearly fraying in the Columbus locker room.
So, here we go again. The tie is tightened, the gum is being chewed furiously, and Rick Bowness is standing behind the bench. Retirement will have to wait. The game called, and he picked up.
