The Winnipeg Jets have promoted associate coach Scott Arniel to head coach, the team announced on Friday. Arniel will replace former Jets head coach Rick Bowness, who announced his retirement earlier this month.
Arniel has spent the past two seasons as the Jets associate coach. During that span, Winnipeg has accumulated a 98-57-9 record and qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in both seasons. Arniel served as the Jets interim head coach on three occasions during the 2023-24 season when Bowness was away from the team due to family and medical reasons.
Arniel also tallied a 15-7-3 record as the team’s interim head coach in 25 games across the 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns.
The new Jets head coach has quite a bit of familiarity with the franchise. Arniel was selected by the Jets with the No. 22 overall pick in the 1981 NHL Draft. He ended up playing his first five professional seasons with the Jets, before returning for one final campaign in 1990-91.
In total, Arniel suited up for 730 games for the Jets, Buffalo Sabres, and Boston Bruins, and racked up 338 points (149 goals & 189 assists) during his NHL career.
Arniel’s coaching career began as an assistant coach with the AHL’s Houston Aeros during the 1995-96 season. The 61-year old was hired by the Columbus Blue Jackets as the franchise’s head coach in 2010, but ended up being fired during the 2011-12 season. He also spent five seasons as the head coach of the AHL’s Chicago Wolves from 2013 until 2018.
Arniel served as an assistant coach for the Washington Capitals for four seasons until being hired by the Jets.
The Winnipeg Jets made a significant coaching change recently, promoting Scott Arniel to the head coach position from his previous role as associate coach. This move comes after the departure of former head coach Paul Maurice, who stepped down from his position earlier this month.
Arniel has been with the Jets organization since 2016, serving as an assistant and then associate coach under Maurice. He brings a wealth of coaching experience to the table, having previously served as a head coach in the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2010 to 2012.
During his time with the Blue Jackets, Arniel led the team to a record of 45-60-18 before being relieved of his duties. Despite this, he is highly regarded in coaching circles for his knowledge of the game and ability to develop players.
Arniel’s promotion to head coach of the Jets signals a new era for the team, as they look to build on their recent success and make a push for the playoffs. With a talented roster that includes stars like Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler, Arniel will have plenty of firepower at his disposal.
One of the key challenges for Arniel will be to instill his own coaching philosophy and style on the team while also maintaining the strong foundation that Maurice had built. Communication with players, implementing strategic game plans, and fostering a winning culture will all be crucial aspects of his role as head coach.
Overall, the promotion of Scott Arniel to head coach of the Winnipeg Jets represents a fresh start for the team and an opportunity for him to showcase his coaching abilities at the highest level. Fans will be eagerly watching to see how he leads the team and if he can guide them to success in the upcoming season.
