Earlier this month, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman suggested that Stars head coach Rick Bowness had a team option for next season on his contract. However, in his latest 32 Thoughts podcast (audio link), Friedman clarified that this is not the case; instead, his contract is simply expiring following this season. Dallas finds itself right in the thick of the battle for one of the last playoff spots in the Western Conference and how they fare on that front will likely go a long way in shaping what direction the team wants to go. That said, Bowness is 67 so there is a chance that he may not want to continue on in a top role anyway. With no team option on his deal, there’s a real possibility that whatever direction they go winds up being a mutual decision.