New Appointments in Islanders’ Front Office
The Islanders are continuing to reinforce their front office. On Monday, the team announced the hiring of Ryan Bowness as the assistant general manager and director of the player representative. His addition comes following the hiring of Mathieu Darche last month, who replaced Lou Lamoriello as general manager, adding depth to the management structure.
Before his departure, Lamoriello extended Chris Lamoriello and Steve Peregrini’s contracts, allowing them to stay on as assistant general managers, according to sources.
Bowness will oversee player representatives and the professional scouting staff. At 41, he is the son of former Islanders head coach Rick Bowness and arrives from a three-season stint with the Senators.
Previously, Bowness served as an assistant general manager and AHL affiliate general manager in Ottawa, with involvement in Senator Belleville until 2023. During his time there, the team made a single postseason appearance, compiling a record of 103-86-15 over three seasons.
His parting with Ottawa was amicable and took place in May. Before joining the Senators, Bowness spent six seasons with the Penguins, working as a pro scout and later as the director of scouting, winning a Stanley Cup in Pittsburgh in 2017.
Bowness possesses a wealth of experience from his seven seasons in the Hockey Operations division of the Winnipeg Jets/Atlanta Thrashers, covering roles such as Pro Scout and manager of player development.
A Halifax native, he was drafted 236th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2001 but never played in the NHL, instead moving into a management role with the organization just a few years later.
During his introductory press conference on May 29, Das emphasized his vision for player development as a central focus for the organization. Bowness’s background in this area likely played a role in his hiring. “I believe in developing players in a winning environment,” Das noted. “The AHL will be a significant focus for me, as it’s crucial for players to be prepared.”
