Bowman Remains Coach of Red Wings

Scotty Bowman, who has won more games than any coach in NHL history, announced Friday that he will return to the Detroit Red Wings next season.

Bowman, who will be 66 in September, said his health has remained good since he underwent knee replacement surgery and an angioplasty last year and he is enthusiastic about coaching the Red Wings again, even though the team’s attempt to win a third consecutive Stanley Cup championship was thwarted by the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference semifinals.

“The Red Wings have been a big part of my life the last six years and it’s been a challenge,” said Bowman, who has won 1,096 regular-season games and 200 playoff games. “We didn’t get the job done this year, but we feel we have a strong club, and with the right mix and just some minor changes we should be able to contend again next year.”

Said Red Wing General Manager Ken Holland: “Scotty has been a big part of our success here, winning the Stanley Cup in back-to-back years, and it would have been a huge loss if Scotty decided not to coach.”

Bowman’s decision may affect the Kings’ coaching search. They were granted permission to speak to Detroit associate coach Dave Lewis, and are expected to interview him next week. With Bowman returning, Lewis--who has spent 12 seasons on Detroit’s staff--may be more inclined to leave to advance his career.

Holland said he and Bowman hope Lewis and fellow associate coach Barry Smith will remain with the Red Wings.

Bowman, renowned for his attention to detail and tactical innovations, has won the Cup eight times as a coach, tying him with Toe Blake for the all-time career lead. He also won once as an executive. During the Colorado series, he said he saw his coaching tenure as short-term, but soon amended that to say he wanted to coach in five decades and into the next century.

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Center Eric Lindros of the Philadelphia Flyers has been officially cleared to play hockey again after recovering from the collapsed lung he suffered last month.

“He’s looking great and doing great, and he’s back to his playing weight” of 236 pounds, Larry Kaiser, chief of thoracic surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, said.

Besides meeting with doctors, Lindros and his agent and father, Carl, were in Philadelphia for a two-hour meeting with Flyer Chairman Ed Snider. Neither side would comment on the talks.

Lindros has a handshake agreement for a one-year, $8.5-million contract extension with Philadelphia, but can be a restricted free agent July 1.

The Flyers would have the right to match any offer.

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Dominik Hasek skated briefly on Friday, performed an assortment of goalie maneuvers, then uttered some words the Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t necessarily want to hear.

“I feel exactly the same way I felt against Ottawa,” the Buffalo Sabre goalie said. “Once the puck was dropped, I didn’t think of my injury.”

Against the Senators in the first round, Hasek had one shutout and gave up six goals as the Sabres won three one-goal games and swept the best-of-seven series.

Hasek, who sat out the first two games against the Maple Leafs when his chronically injured groin became too painful to play, returned to the lineup Thursday night after the Leafs had rallied for a 6-3 victory in Game 2 and sparked the Sabres to a 4-2 victory that gave them a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference finals.

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A proposal to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins was put on hold while attorneys argue over whether the team’s arena lease should be dissolved.

A bankruptcy judge refused to grant preliminary approval to a buyout plan by Civic Arena landlord SMG Inc. and broadcaster Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh until the lease question is resolved.

“It was a good day. Today the Titanic hit an iceberg,” said attorney Doug Campbell, referring to SMG.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.