TAMPA — Rick Bowness was prepared for a long season after being hired as the first head coach of the Senators, thus, connecting with the members of his coaching staff was even more vital, knowing wins wouldn’t be able to bind them together.
Within 10 minutes of meeting Alain Vigneault, a largely unknown junior coach in nearby Hull, Bowness believed he had found a perfect partner.
“When I first hired him in Ottawa we knew it was going to be a struggle and I wanted to put together a staff with a strong work ethic, strong character and had each other’s backs,” said Bowness, who coached the Islanders for parts of the 1996-97 and 1997-98 seasons.