The Winnipeg Free Press is reporting that the Thrashers are interested in talking to Manitoba Moose head coach Scott Arniel about the head coaching job here in Atlanta. Ariel is technically employed by the Vancouver Canucks so Rick Dudley would have to get permission from them to speak to Arniel. Word on Twitter is that permission has been granted.
Arniel played 730 games in the NHL for the Jets, Sabres and Bruins and has a couple of connections to the Thrashers. Arniel played for the Sabres in 1989-90 when Dudley was the head coach and played for Dudley again in San Diego with the Gulls in 1992-93. Don Waddell was the president and GM of the Gulls at the time so he knows Arniel as well.
On top of the management connections, Arniel was the assistant coach of the Moose in 2000-2001 when Johan Hedberg was in Manitoba and it was late in that season when he got called up by the Penguins and earned his “Moose” nickname.
Arniel started his coaching career in 1995-96 as a player-coach with the IHLAero’s before becoming an assistant coach with the Moose for three seasons beginning in 2000-01. Following that he was an assistant coach for the Sabres for three seasons before returning to Manitoba as the head coach in 2006-07.
So far the only other confirmed coaching candidate for the open head coach position is Chicago Wolves coach Don Lever who led the Wolves to a 48-19-1-6 record in the regular season after taking over in late October.
Please don’t do this. Sounds like two good candidates, but I want someone who has already successfully coached in the NHL.
No more first time NHL coaches here. Curt Fraser and John Anderson didn’t cut it, why should these guys be any different?
I certainly understand the sentiment Dave, but don’t rule out all AHL coaches just because Anderson and Fraser didn’t work out. Many great coaches have come from the AHL.
Do you have any suggestions for the job that have NHL head coaching experience?
Craig MacTavish
John Stevens
Mike Sullivan
Dennis Savard
Rick Tocchet
Andy Murray
Personally I’d like to see Stevens, Sullivan, or Tocchet.
michel therrien or scotty bowman
man that would be awesome if it were possible to get bowman
we could almost be certain we’d get a cup
I also do not like idea to get NON NHL Coach.
Michael Therrien is good candidate.
Therien is an interesting suggestion. I think one of the reason he was pushed out in Pittsburgh was because of the way he handled young players. I’d have to go back and read some of the stories from the time though. I could be wrong.
Bowman has retired from coaching. As nice as it would be to have someone with his track record, he’s not an option.
Ben, are you soon done with the Q&A with Dudley?;) Looking forward to it.
It will be posted in a few parts beginning Monday. It covers a bit about him, prospects, draft strategy, the coaching search and his thoughts on the current roster and free agents.
John Stevens. Solid NHL coach in Philly and knows how to coach young players. I know that Arniel may be a good AHL coach, but no matter how good he may be this franchise cannot afford to experiment with another minor league coach. So in other words: No to Scott Arniel.
GUY CARBONNEAU!!!
GUY CARBONNEAU!!!
GUY CARBONNEAU!!!
Brad McCrimmon…. nuff said.
Brad McCrimmon…are you kidding me?
He failed his audition when he handled practices when Waddell was interim. Let him screw up, say, Toronto or the Rangers (2 teams I hate).