Playoffs 2000:Bowman undecided about his future

Bowman undecided about his future
Associated Press

DENVER -- Deflecting questions about his future, Detroit Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman said Friday night he will weigh several factors before deciding whether to continue coaching.

Bowman's season came to an end when his team bowed to the Colorado Avalanche 4-2 on Friday night. Colorado won the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series 4-1.

Bowman, 66, has been the subject of retirement speculation since having knee replacement surgery and an angioplasty that caused him to miss the early part of the 1998-99 season.

After Friday night's loss, Bowman insisted he didn't enter the postseason with any plans of either retiring or continuing if his team won a Stanley Cup.

"I guess the first thing I'll do is get a physical," Bowman said. "There are five ingredients, and the most important is my health. Then there's Kenny (general manager Ken Holland) and the way this team wants to go.

"I have to talk to my wife and with myself, and to my financial adviser. I haven't thought it all the way yet."

Already a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Bowman has coached eight teams to Stanley Cup titles, and he is the winningest coach in NHL regular-season (1,144) and playoff (205) history.

He is one of only two coaches in the four major sports to win a championship with three teams (Montreal, Pittsburgh, Detroit).