Paul Maurice has resigned as head coach of the Winnipeg Jets, the team announced on Friday.
Assistant coach Dave Lowry will assume the coaching duties on an interim basis.
At a news conference Friday morning, Maurice said he loved the team, but that it was time to move on.
“This is a good team. I’m a good coach, but sometimes when you take over a team it’s kind of like you’re starting at the bottom of a mountain and you’re pushing a rock up,” he said.
“You can only get it to certain place. That’s where I feel I’m at.”
New leader needed, Maurice says
Maurice said he thinks the team needs a new leader at the helm to advance.
“And if you would allow me some arrogance, I would say I’m better positioned than anyone to know that they need a new voice,” he said. “They haven’t quit on me, they’re a good bunch of men and I’m cheering for them, I am.”
When asked if he thought the team was under performing, Maurice replied that he thought they could do better.
“I think we’ve been very consistent. We’re just under where we could be. We’ve been consistently under where we could be.”
The Jets are 13-10-5 heading into Friday night’s game against the visiting Washington Capitals.