Jets come full circle with head coach Scott Arniel
Posted May 27, 2024 3:58 pm.
The 1981 NHL draft will always be remembered in these parts as the year the Winnipeg Jets landed the late great Dale Hawerchuk, but with the 22nd pick, the Jets also selected a youngster by the name of Scott Arniel.
It was beginning a career that came full circle Monday, as Arniel was officially introduced as the fourth head coach in Jets history.
“In my coaching career, this is probably the greatest personal chapter for me to become the coach of the Winnipeg Jets,” said Arniel.
Following two successful seasons as Rick Bowness’s right-hand man. Arniel is an NHL head coach once again having previously coached the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2010 to 2012.
READ MORE: Winnipeg Jets hire Scott Arniel as head coach
A tenure, the 61-year-old admits didn’t go as planned, being fired after a year and a half in charge. But while the dismissal hurt at the time, Arniel says it opened his eyes to how he needed to grow as a coach.
“I had to find a way to get better and that is what I have tried to do for the past 12 years,” he explained.
Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff confirmed Monday they had interviewed two other candidates for the position, but in the end, felt confident that Arniel was the right choice to guide the team moving forward.
“We are looking for someone to hold players accountable, for someone that can relate to the players, and someone to build upon. I could go on and on, all signs pointed to Scott,” said Cheveldayoff.
“There was nothing ever promised to Scott, he’s sitting here today because he earned this opportunity.
“He’s been with them, he’s grown with them, he’s had hard conversations with them, over 25 games, over the period of two years, you know he’s lead them.”
Following the announcement of Arniel’s hiring on Friday, some had criticized the Jets for playing it safe, but if playing it safe means this season, in which the Jets tied their franchise record for wins, then that’ll be just fine.
“If the status quo is 52 wins is there, I’ll be pretty darn happy,” said Cheveldayoff.
