The Winnipeg Jets' recently appointed head coach, Scott Arniel, was once an NHL player who the team's former player believes they hired a "loser."
As the new head coach of the Winnipeg Jets, Scott Arniel appears to have the full support of his teammates, coworkers, and players, but it's obvious that not everyone thinks highly of him. Using his X account, a former NHL player has called Arniel conceited and a "loser."
Arnie has served as an assistant coach for three NHL teams in recent years, including the Winnipeg Jets, but he has also held head coaching positions in the league. Arniel led the Columbus Blue Jackets as head coach from 2010 to 2012. Before being fired in January 2012, Arniel had a 45-60-18 record over one and a half seasons. Arniel coached Mike Commodore, a former NHL defenseman, there. Following Winnipeg's announcement, Commodore had nothing positive to say about him and added that the team had made a grave error.
Commodore has retaliated against a former coach before. He played for the Detroit Red Wings under Mike Babcock, with whom he has had a lot of criticism. Commodore has made multiple posts regarding Babcock, including one after the coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs was sacked in 2019.
The Commodore did not elaborate on the reasons behind the breakdown of his relationship with Arniel in Columbus. Arniel participated in 730 NHL games between 1981 and 1992, making him a former player in the league. The Jets (two stints), Buffalo Sabres, and Boston Bruins are among the former teams.
