Dallas Stars head coach Rick Bowness has chosen to step down, while assistants John Stevens, Derek Laxdal and Todd Nelson won't be back next season.

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Bowness, 67, had been in charge of the Stars since replacing Jim Montgomery on an interim basis on December 10, 2019. After leading the club to the Stanley Cup Finals, where he lost to the Lightning of Tampa Bay in the fall of 2020, he became the pilot permanently on October 29 of the same year.

The experienced coach saw his squad conclude the last campaign with the first pass of the teams drafted in the Western Conference. Dallas went 46-30-6 only to go down in overtime in Game 7 of the opening round series against the Calgary Flames.

"After careful consideration with my wife Judy, we believe it is best to step down and allow this organization to take a different path to the head coaching position," he said in a statement. I would like to thank all of the passionate fans and dedicated staff for their support and hard work during my time here.”

The New Brunswicker was hired as an assistant in June 2018. Previously, he managed the Winnipeg Jets, Ottawa Senators, Phoenix Coyotes, Boston Bruins and New York Islanders. He has 212 wins in 639 regular season games in the National League.