The Winnipeg Jets have appointed Scott Arniel as their new head coach, as reported by TSN’s Darren Dreger. Arniel, a frontrunner throughout the interview process, is well-regarded by the players and has earned another chance to lead an NHL team. He spent the last two seasons as the associate coach under Rick Bowness. Arniel previously served as head coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2010 to 2012.
The Jets have struggled in recent postseason performances, notably allowing 28 goals in five games against the Colorado Avalanche in the first round. Under Bowness, the team failed to advance past the first round, necessitating a coaching change. Despite this, Bowness had a distinguished career, including being a Jack Adams Finalist and amassing 2,726 games as a head or assistant coach over five decades. He retired this offseason.
In their search for a new head coach, the Jets interviewed several top candidates. These included Craig Berube, who was later hired by the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Todd McLellan, who was let go by the Los Angeles Kings mid-season. Elliotte Friedman also reported that the Jets interviewed former Minnesota Wild coach Dean Evason. Despite this extensive search, Arniel emerged as the leading candidate.
Friedman noted, “They’ve definitely had a process,” and added, “…all signs point to Scott Arniel.”
As Arniel assumes leadership, the Jets aim to resolve their defensive issues and overcome their recent pattern of early playoff exits. Meanwhile, coaching positions remain open with the San Jose Sharks and Seattle Kraken, adding further anticipation to the next coaching hires in the NHL.
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