Rick Bowness' Comments Suggest the Winnipeg Jets Need Big Change

The status quo didn’t work for the Winnipeg Jets in a first-round loss. Coach Rick Bowness is disgusted, and change is likely on the way, writes Adam Proteau.

The Winnipeg Jets were soundly trounced by the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5 of their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series Thursday, giving Vegas the series win and sending the Jets home for the summer. 

Winnipeg coach Rick Bowness did not mince words in the aftermath of the loss, telling media – in an availability window of less than two minutes – the Jets’ best players were outperformed by the Golden Knights’ best players.

“I’m so disappointed and disgusted right now,” Bowness said. “It was the same crap we saw in February…as soon as we were challenging for first place and teams were coming after us, we had no pushback. This series? No pushback.”

Coaches are just like players after a devastating loss like the one Winnipeg suffered Thursday – emotions bubble quickly to the surface, and things are said that might cause regret for those who say them. But when it comes to Bowness, we suspect he’ll stand by his comments as long as he’s in the public sphere. 

He sounded like a coach who knew that change was going to come and come quickly. And we think anyone predicting big change for the Jets is absolutely correct.

For starters, Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff’s future as the architect of the team is in serious jeopardy. As of this coming June, Cheveldayoff will have spent the past dozen seasons as Winnipeg’s GM – an absolute eternity in the GM profession. 

We just saw the Calgary Flames part ways with former GM Brad Treliving, who lasted nine years in the position, so it’s only fair to ask why the Jets would continue with Cheveldayoff running things.

That said, regardless of who Winnipeg’s GM will be in the coming days and weeks, there has to be significant turnover for a roster that wilted so easily in the face of pressure to produce. 

The most likely candidate to be moved is star center Pierre-Luc Dubois, who will be an RFA this summer. The 25-year-old has been linked to the Montreal Canadiens, and if the Jets can acquire above-average prospects and/or draft picks in exchange for Dubois, they’d be doing a service to their long-term outlook.

However, Dubois is not the only current Jet who may not be in Winnipeg for long. As per CapFriendly, star center Mark Scheifele – who was injured and didn’t play in Game 5 – and veteran winger Blake Wheeler each have only one more season remaining on their current contract before they become UFAs in the summer of 2024. Wheeler is 36 years old, and Scheifele is 30, and although both have some form of a no-trade clause in their contract, it’s not likely they would want to be a part of a serious rebuild.

Winnipeg’s other key veteran is star goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who posted a subpar .866 save percentage against Vegas. Hellebuyck doesn’t have a no-trade or no-move clause in his contract, but he is entering the final season of his current deal. The Jets would have to be blown away to even consider moving Hellebuyck, but at a point in NHL history where goaltending is as important as it’s ever been, Winnipeg could command a king’s ransom in exchange for their goalie.

Bowness is a well-traveled hockey man who knew exactly how his comments Thursday would play out. He has to know that the status quo is not an option for this group. This is why he so willingly threw his stars under the bus. Heck, if Cheveldayoff is fired, there’s no guarantee Bowness will be back behind Winnipeg’s bench next season. 

Bowness looked and sounded like he’s past the point of no return with the Jets’ roster, and it’s hard to fault him for taking that stance. Winnipeg is a franchise destined for notable change, and Bowness is welcoming it.