Hockeytown Could Lose Citizen No. 1

William Scott Bowman looked stunned late Monday night, unable to halt the wild celebration exploding around him. Adam Deadmarsh thrust a dagger into the hearts of Bowman’s Detroit Red Wings, scoring an overtime goal that lifted the Kings to a 3-2, series-clinching victory at Staples Center.

The game and the series had finally unraveled before Bowman’s disbelieving eyes.

Bowman’s top forwards, Brendan Shanahan and Steve Yzerman, were helpless to rescue the Red Wings, felled by foot and ankle injuries, respectively. His next-best forward, Sergei Fedorov, skated off to the Bahamas at some point between the second and third games and never returned. His corps of defensemen was unable to match strides with the faster, younger Kings.

Andy Murray, with only two seasons as an NHL coach, outmaneuvered him, making several critical adjustments that propelled the Kings to four consecutive victories.

“Scotty didn’t say a lot when we were on the ice for the [traditional post-series] handshake,” Murray said. “He’s such a fierce competitor. I think he was in a little bit of shock. He hasn’t had to go through that very often.”

Without Shanahan and Yzerman, Bowman’s hands were tied. He had only so many options. Boyd Devereaux and Jason Williams were not going to slay the Kings in Game 6. For the first time since 1994, back when Hockeytown was just another town that loved its hockey, the Red Wings’ season is over after only one Stanley Cup playoff round.

Question is: Have we seen the last of Bowman behind the bench?

Certainly, the timing could be right for Bowman to retire. His status as perhaps the greatest coach in the recent history of professional sports is secure. After all, he has won eight Stanley Cup championships--five with the Montreal Canadiens, one with the Pittsburgh Penguins and two with the Red Wings.

Not unexpectedly, Bowman did not wish to discuss his future so soon after such a devastating loss. He’s not a man prone to making emotional statements. He will take his time, mull over his future and then decide.

No one can possibly blame Bowman for the Red Wings’ flameout against the Kings. He tinkered as best as he could, given the extent of the injuries to key Red Wings. He didn’t go down without a fight.

“I don’t think we’ve ever had a team as banged-up as this one, especially going into a series,” Bowman said when asked about the injuries to Shanahan and Yzerman and also to defenseman Chris Chelios (broken left thumb) and winger Darren McCarty (sprained ankle). “We’re certainly not the team we were during the regular season. And in the playoffs, you’ve got to go up. You can’t do down.”

Perhaps Bowman could have shamed the enigmatic Fedorov into showing more heart in the final four games. But watching Fedorov over the years, one can’t help but identify with the frustration that must keep Bowman up late at night while wondering what in the name of Lord Stanley is going on in that head of his.

After scoring goals in each of the first two games, won with apparent effortlessness by the Red Wings, Fedorov contributed only two assists in the four Detroit losses.

In Game 6, Fedorov failed to record a shot on net and was on the ice for Deadmarsh’s tying and winning goals. He was trailing the play as Deadmarsh whacked a rebound between Chris Osgood’s legs for the goal that tied the score, 2-2, midway through the third period. He was barely in the picture as Deadmarsh streaked down the left wing to tap home a long rebound for the winner in overtime.

Bowman couldn’t go on the ice and kick Fedorov in the rear end to get him moving. Someone needed to do it, however.

So, in that sense, perhaps it is time for Bowman to step aside and to find a quiet corner of the world, basking in the accomplishments of a lifetime. Quitting now, at age 67 and after a difficult playoff loss, won’t damage his legacy one bit. After all, he’s already enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

Let another man, a younger man, push and pull and prod Fedorov and the rest of the Red Wings to greatness.

After eight seasons and two championships in Detroit, Bowman’s tenure behind the Red Wing bench would seem to be nearer to the end than to the middle or the beginning.

Ken Holland, the Red Wing general manager, could easily hand the coaching duties to assistants Dave Lewis and/or Barry Smith. No one doubts they could keep the club near the top of the NHL standings should Bowman retire.

If Monday proves to be Scotty Bowman’s final game as an NHL coach, then it was our privilege to watch him battle against impossible odds against a worthy opponent that had every advantage against him, yet had to summon an extraordinary effort to win.