Arniel was always the answer Jets new head coach has paid his dues and earned the opportunity to lead team By: Ken Wiebe Posted: 6:38 PM CDT Monday, May. 27, 2024 Last Modified: 10:44 AM CDT Tuesday, May. 28, 2024 Updates

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This article was published 27/05/2024 (842 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As Kevin Cheveldayoff was doing his due diligence and making calls to fill his head coaching vacancy, the general manager of the Winnipeg Jets kept coming back to the same answer.

While it was important to take the temperature and hold a few other formal interviews with experienced candidates Craig Berube (who took a gig with the Toronto Maple Leafs) and Todd McLellan (who remains a free agent), an exhaustive search like the one that was held back in the summer of 2022 was not required.

The right choice for the job was someone who was already on the coaching staff and that person is Scott Arniel, who held his introductory press conference Monday morning at Canada Life Centre.

While the folks at True North Sports and Entertainment are familiar with Arniel, given his extensive history with the organization dating back to his time as a player with the Manitoba Moose in the International Hockey League and later, as a coach in the American Hockey League this wasn’t some sort of lifetime achievement award either.

“It wasn’t like we were looking to reinvent this team. We weren’t looking to take it from one kind of coach to another. We were looking to know that the foundation we had in place was going to continue to be built upon,” said Cheveldayoff. “He showed a lot of vulnerability and opened up a lot about the Columbus experience and just where he’s grown.

“But the most important part of that process was that he came in with a plan for almost every single player. It was clear, right then and there, that Arnie was not only thoughtful about the Xs and Os and about the organization, but he had a chance to be a guy that could exact a change in some of these players, because he’s been with them and he’s grown and he’s built that relationship. He’s had hard conversations with them.”

Arniel interviewed well in 2022 when Rick Bowness was ultimately hired and while many have speculated a succession plan was put in place when he joined the staff, Cheveldayoff reiterated “there was never anything promised to Scott and he’s sitting here today because he’s earned this opportunity.”

Sources say Arniel signed a three-year deal as he takes over from Bowness and becomes the fourth full-time coach in 2.0 franchise history.

Arniel is a hockey lifer, someone who has played a variety of roles as a player and worked through a number of different experiences behind the bench.

That vast experience can help him relate to players throughout the lineup and those battling to either jockey for position on the depth chart, along with prospects who are trying to make the jump.

“The experience he’s had as a player and the experience he’s had as a coach, he’s been through almost every situation there is,” former NHL head coach Alain Vigneault said.

“You have a guy who paid his dues as a coach. He’s one of the best coaches that I know and that I’ve worked with, in terms of trying to evolve all the time. He’s trying to find out what’s new out there and where can I use this with individual players and where can I use this in a collective fashion? That’s why he hung around and has been an NHL coach for so long, because he’s always on top of everything that’s out there.

“It’s never easy in this game getting an opportunity or a first chance. Sometimes it’s harder to get that second opportunity or that second chance. But when you do, you’re a way better coach than you were your first time. You know how to see situations that are coming up and what’s the best way to handle them.”

Arniel’s first experience as an NHL head coach with the Columbus Blue Jackets didn’t go as planned, as he was fired 41 games into his second season.

Arniel was quick to admit his shortcomings after plenty of time for self-reflection.

“I went into Columbus as a young, green coach. You think that maybe you have all the answers,” said Arniel. “One of the darkest times for me in coaching — probably in hockey — was when I got fired in Columbus. I had never been through it. It took a long time to get over it. Whether it was anger or it was doubt. Whatever it was. It took a while. You can ask my wife, you can ask my kids, even some of my friends — I was a grumpy person.

“The best part was I got an opportunity to go right back into it. Got to go to New York with Alain Vigneault. I got my head out of the sand and just decided that I had to find a way to get better and that’s what I’ve tried to do for the last 12 years.

“I’ve interviewed, I’ve actually had opportunities with some other teams. I’ve talked to other teams, I’ve gotten onto the shortlist of other teams. Until now, this is the reality that I’m finally back as a head coach and I’d like to think that the hard work has all paid off.”

Arniel has spent 16 seasons behind the bench at the NHL level, including time as an assistant coach with the Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals and as an associate coach with the New York Rangers, helping the team reach the Stanley Cup final in 2014, where they lost to the Los Angeles Kings.

Promoting Arniel represents a belief in the strides the Jets have taken over the past two seasons — which included winning the Jennings Trophy as the team that gave up the fewest goals, to posting 52 wins and finishing fourth in the NHL in points (110), while recognizing the growth didn’t translate into post-season success.

During the past two seasons, the Jets posted a record of 15-7-3 with Arniel at the helm when Bowness was away from the team.

“The biggest thing about getting back on the bench the last two years was that I got belief back in myself. That was the biggest single thing that happened,” said Arniel.

“I’ve been sitting here for the last 12 years always wondering if I’m going to get a second chance and I tell you what, there’s some great coaches in our league right now that got a second chance and a third chance that are having great success.

“And I like to think that I’ve learned a lot over these past few years that are going to help me move forward.”

Arniel, 61, discussed his philosophy of integrating youth into the lineup when those players are ready but also revealed that he plans to hold a coaching summit this summer to help the organization get on the same page.

“Analytics need to be part of the game and the biggest thing for analytics, for me, is getting ahead of the curve,” said Arniel. “It’s easy to grab your analytics when things are going bad and say, ‘You’re terrible in this area, you’re terrible in that.’

“For us, it’s to mind some of those things, it’s to find areas that you’re obviously good at that you can build on. You look at the top teams around the league and see what they’re good at and why they have good success on a yearly basis.

“Why do they have success in the playoffs? We’re going to look at that and we’re going to talk to some different people who can bring some things to us as a staff. The goal, ultimately, is to try to get some of this information to the players. But you have to be careful about how much is going to go there.”

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

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