The Winnipeg Jets announced today that Scott Arniel has been appointed as the ninth head coach in the franchise’s history and the fourth since the team’s relocation to Winnipeg.
The 61-year-old Arniel has spent the past two seasons as an associate coach for the team and was an integral piece of a win-loss record of 98-57-9. Arniel served as interim head coach of the Jets during three separate absences by former bench boss Rick Bowness. Arniel’s win-loss record in the interim role was 15-7-3 throughout the 25 games spread across 2022-23 and 2023-24.
Playing Career
The former Winnipeg Jets was a second-round (22nd overall) NHL Entry Draft selection in 1981. He spent five seasons in Winnipeg before returning to the team for a run in 1990-91. Arniel split 730 games between the Winnipeg Jets (now Utah NHL Team), Buffalo Sabres and the Boston Bruins. He recorded 338 points (149G, 189A) and 599 career penalty minutes. Arniel spent the sunset of his career in the AHL and IHL for the Manitoba Moose where he recorded 171 points (67G, 104A) and 233 PIMs in 222 games.
Before his NHL tenure, he won back-to-back Memorial Cups with the Cornwall Royals and Winnipeg Jets legend Dale Hawerchuk in 1980 and 1981. He played for Team Canada in the 1981 and 1982 World Junior Championships and won gold in 1982. He also found success in the IHL when he won the Turner Cup in 1995-96.
Coaching Career
Following his 1999 retirement as a player, Arniel served as an assistant coach for Manitoba for two seasons. He spent three seasons as an assistant coach for the Buffalo Sabres before returning to the Manitoba Moose as the head coach from 2006 to 2010. Arniel’s tenure with the Moose was highlighted by their 2009 Calder Cup Final appearance.
The Columbus Blue Jackets hired Scott Arniel as the head coach of the team on June 8th, 2010 and later fired him midway through his second season with the team. He found his way back in the AHL as the head coach of the Chicago Wolves in 2012-13 before the New York Rangers hired him as an associate coach. Arniel served as an associate coach with the Rangers for five years (2013 to 2018) before finding his way to the Washington Capitals where he served as an assistant coach for four seasons (2019 to 2022)
As an NHL head coach, associate coach, and assistant coach; Arniel was a part of the Rangers’ 2014 Stanley Cup Final appearance, a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2006 with Buffalo and with the New York Rangers in 2015. The New York Rangers also won the Presidents’ Trophy in the 2014-15 season.
Sometimes an Unpopular Hire is the Best Hire
It was a matter of when and not if Scott Arniel was going to be named head coach of the Winnipeg Jets. It was not a popular decision as fans voiced their displeasure on X (formerly Twitter), but when Arniel was hired as an associate, it was known that he was the head coach in waiting.
The Winnipeg Jets are certainly going to have bigger decisions to make as the team has two massive stories this off-season with Nikolaj Ehlers trade rumours and turmoil with Cole Perfetti’s contract negotiations. Pair this with notable pending unrestricted free agents and how the team is shaped is up to Kevin Cheveldayoff and the vision/season plan that Scott Arniel has.
With some expected promotions from the Manitoba Moose to the Winnipeg Jets, one has to wonder what the outlook is. Hiring Scott Arniel was the obvious choice, but not the most popular. Arniel has a proven track record with this current group of players and it’s obvious there’s a deep respect for him within the entire organization. When 2024-25 unfolds, we will see what Arniel is capable of for 82 games.
