Winnipeg Jets head coach Bowness steps away from bench for medical procedure

Rick Bowness will not be with the Winnipeg Jets Tuesday night in New York against the Rangers.

The Jets announced Tuesday morning that the coach has returned to Winnipeg for a "minor medical procedure."

Winnipeg announced that he will be away from the team until his condition improves, with associate coach Scott Arniel taking over on an interim basis.

It'll be the second time this season that Bowness, 69, has been away from the team. He took a leave of absence in October after his wife had a seizure. Arniel served as interim head coach at that time as well.

Bowness has led the Jets to a 43-19-5 record this season. The Jets are tied with Colorado and Dallas at 91 points for first place in the NHL's Central Division.

He took over the job in July 2022 and Winnipeg finished the 2022-23 regular season with 95 points under his guidance.

The Jets later fell to eventual champion Vegas in five games in the opening round of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs.