NHL Rumors: Winnipeg Jets - Rick Bowness, Free Brokers, and the Blue Line

What does the longer term maintain for Winnipeg Jets coach Rick Bowness? What adjustments will the Jets look to make this offseason?

TSN: Darren Dreger and Jay Onrait on what’s subsequent for Winnipeg Jets head coach Rick Bowness, and what variety offseason could also be in retailer for the Jets.

** NHLRumors.com transcription

Onrait: “… Darren Dreger, our hockey Insider. So what are you able to inform us about the way forward for Rick Bowness in Winnipeg?

Dreger: “Nicely, after which clearly Jay, that’s the massive query, proper? And the assembled media wished to know and discover out whether or not or not you realize, they might anticipate the veteran head coach to be again on the bench with Winnipeg Jets.

My intestine tells me that that’s unlikely. I don’t suppose that Rick Bowness might be again. I don’t know that for certain. However I do take inventory of the season that it’s been.

NHL Rumors: Victor Hedman, Anthony Duclair, Matt Dumba, and Jon Cooper

I imply, this man is as deeply invested as any coach that I can bear in mind. No totally different this yr, however he additionally had household points that he had to concentrate to. , his spouse Judy went via a troublesome time. He had the go away of absence to take care of Judy. He had his personal well being points close to the top of the common season.

Two issues I find out about Rick Bowness. One precedence, high of the listing is his household and two, he loves to educate. On this case I believe that the household goes to win out. He’s going to slip again into retirement once more, unofficial, we’ll see.

However what a strategy to exit. I imply, he must be must be within the Jack Adams dialog. That’s the job that Rick Bowness did this yr in Winnipeg.

Onrait: “And, it’s fascinating to listen to Connor Hellebuyck‘s feedback. , he can’t do it alone. It was an eventful offseason final yr in Winnipeg. How eventful is it going to be this offseason in Winnipeg?

Dreger: “Yeah. I imply, there’ll be adjustments organically. There’ll be adjustments. I imply, you take a look at the unrestricted free agent listing in Winnipeg. What’s going to occur was Sean Monahan who was acquired from Montreal Canadiens? What about Tyler Toffoli, who got here in from the New Jersey Devils? That stuff will take care of itself.

However then you definitely take inventory of what you’ve obtained. And it was fascinating, there wasn’t plenty of consideration paid to the core of the Winnipeg Jets as a part of the media availability and that’s what I’m most serious about. , once more, to, to investigate, possibly among the weak spot. I regarded on the high 4 protection of the Jets and that looks like an space that Kevin Cheveldayoff the GM goes to need to attempt to enhance.

However right here’s a newsflash for you, Jay. Except you draft these items, they’re extremely laborious to accumulate. , Winnipeg struggles in the case of convincing unrestricted free brokers to return into the small market. So how do you purchase that piece? And that’s the place I believe it’s going to get fascinating.

NHL Rumors: Washington Capitals, Ottawa Senators, and the Seattle Kraken

Does Cheveldayoff use, say a ahead like Nikolaj Ehlers who will go into his remaining yr of his contract as a commerce asset to accumulate that protection?

So I’m not saying that’s going to occur both, it’s simply I believe these are the conversations hockey operations has to have in Winnipeg to maneuver ahead.