Jets hang out help wanted sign

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/05/2024 (538 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Jets have a new bench boss and have hung out the Help Wanted sign to round out the coaching staff.

Two assistant positions are vacant, giving the organization an opportunity to add some fresh faces to the mix. One was previously held by Scott Arniel, who has been promoted to the top job to replace the retired Rick Bowness. The other belonged to Brad Lauer, who has been fired after two seasons.

There should be no shortage of quality candidates looking to fill the holes on a team coming off a 52-24-6 campaign and with plenty of quality core pieces locked up long-term including Vezina Trophy favourite Connor Hellebuyck, top defenceman Josh Morrissey and No. 1 centre Mark Scheifele.

“My phone is buzzing like crazy here,” Arniel said Monday.

“There’s certainly been a tremendous amount of turnover in the league in the last year, in the last two years. So there are a lot of people that have contacted me. We’ll work hard this week to put a staff together. There’s lots and lots of interest, and I think people recognize that we have a really good situation here and real good hockey club.”

Current assistants Marty Johnston and Wade Flaherty are both returning to join Arniel.

“We wish Brad all the best, he’s put two hard years of his career into working here,” general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said of Lauer, who had been the head coach of the Western Hockey League’s Edmonton Oil Kings for four seasons prior to being hired by the Jets in the summer of 2022 along with Bowness, Arniel and Johnston.

“One thing that we talked about going through the process here with Scott was that we were looking to add some outside influence on both the assistant coaches, whether it’ll be an associate or assistant, those are things that we’ll kind of wait to see how some things unfold.”

Lauer was primarily involved in running the power play, which finished 22nd in the NHL last year at 18.8 per cent. Of the 16 teams which qualified for the playoffs, Winnipeg’s power play ranked last.

Arniel was in charge of the penalty kill, which was also problematic and finished 21st at 77.1 per cent.

Expect the two new hires to have backgrounds in both specialty components.

“I’ve got some really interesting text messages and emails from some young coaches. I’ve gotten names from management. I’ve got some names from some other coaches that have recommended people as well,” said Arniel.

“I’m not going to be close-minded on any of that. I want to talk to all these guys. I want to kind of see who’s out there and what they bring to the table and whether that’s young or experienced, I’m going to look at it all.”

There are plenty of veteran coaches now looking for work, including recently fired NHL head coaches such as Todd McLellan (who interviewed for the job that went to Arniel), Dean Evason and Dave Hakstol. Would surrounding Arniel with some experience in the form of one of them make sense?

“I’m going to be wide-open for everything,” said Arniel. “Being in the league as long as I have, I’ve got some really good relationships. I’ve got an idea of who is available. I’m quite surprised. I’ve got a number of new names I hadn’t thought of. Some you guys maybe haven’t heard about that are maybe looking to change positions.”

Time is of the essence.

“I want to get ahead of some of these teams because there are a lot of teams looking. If you wait too long, you’re going to box yourself out,” said Arniel. “I’ve already touched base with guys. I obviously want to do an interview process with them, but I can’t be one of those hanging on the line waiting for another better job or a better situation. I’m going to move forward as soon as possible.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg