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Ottawa Senators to interview first-ever head coach Rick Bowness

By James Reeve

ST. PAUL, MN - FEBRUARY 10: Tampa Bay Lightning Assistant Coach Rick Bowness sets the NHL record for most games as a Head and Assistant Coach during the game against the Minnesota Wild on February 10, 2017 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)
ST. PAUL, MN - FEBRUARY 10: Tampa Bay Lightning Assistant Coach Rick Bowness sets the NHL record for most games as a Head and Assistant Coach during the game against the Minnesota Wild on February 10, 2017 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The Ottawa Senators have reportedly obtained permission to interview Dallas Stars assistant coach Rick Bowness for their vacant head coaching position.

Rick Bowness will be very familiar to the majority of Ottawa Senators fans, having been the first head coach in the organisation’s history – from 1992 until part-way through the 1995/96 season.

Since being fired by the Senators in the mid-90s, Bowness has held assistant, associate and head coaching roles with a number of teams in the NHL, including the then-Phoenix Coyotes, New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks, Tampa Bay Lightning and most recently with the Stars.

According to the Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch, Bowness has been praised for the defensive work he has done with the Stars this season – with the 64-year-old helping the team to the fifth-best penalty kill in the league with an 82.8% success rate.

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With the Ottawa Senators looking to build from the blueline, adding a defensive-minded head coach certainly appears to be the route the organisation is taking.

The Sens have some truly talented pieces in defence, with Thomas Chabot already a stud in the NHL while players such as Christian Wolanin and top prospect Erik Brannstrom having very promising futures ahead.

This is a solid base to start building on, with the addition of more defensive prospects and possible veterans helping to create a solid foundation the team’s future success could rely on.

Bowness helped guide the fledgeling Senators through the early stage of their history, with very little success expected, helping to build a decent foundation that Jacques Martin would go on to build upon – with Martin also being interviewed for the role once again.

Going back to people that have already had the role of head coach for the Senators may seem like a step backwards, but Bowness was in his late thirties when he first took charge 27 years ago.

His experiences around the league will have helped him adapt with the modern game and with his mentality primarily focused on a solid defensive base, he could be an intriguing option for the Ottawa Senators.

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What do you think though Sens fans? Would you be happy seeing Bowness taking the reins once more? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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