There were plenty of rumblings about Lightning associate coach Rick Bowness bolting for another team this off-season.
Over the last few days, reports surfaced about Bowness being interviewed for the head coaching vacancy in Anaheim and other reports had him joining Alain Vigneault’s staff with the Rangers.
Per ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun, Bowness isn’t going anywhere. On Tuesday morning, LeBrun reported that the Lightning and their associate coach had come to terms on a contract extension.
Hearing that Rick Bowness has signed an extension with Tampa Bay. Good place to stay. Close to a Cup perhaps.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 14, 2016
Looks like Rick Bowness has decided to stay on in Tampa for another year after coming close to going to New York. https://t.co/jiTjwFi9nu
— BucciOT.Com (@Buccigross) June 14, 2016
The connection to the Rangers would have made sense. Bowness spent seven seasons as Vigneault’s associate coach in Vancouver. Also, the pair worked together in Ottawa from 1992 to 1996.
Bowness was in charge of the Lightning’s defense and penalty kill. Tampa Bay had the third-best PK during the playoffs at 86.6 percent and the seventh-best unit during the regular season at 84 percent.
Update: Bolts confirm the extension...
Rick Bowness has signed a multi-year contract extension with the #TBLightning to remain our associate coach.
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) June 14, 2016