Arniel, 61, is a hockey veteran, having been in the game since the early '80s, either playing or coaching. He's worked his way up the ranks, and at one point, he was in consideration for the Vancouver Canucks vacancy before it went to Ric Tocchet.
Back in the late 2000s, he ran the show for the Canucks' AHL squad for a solid four seasons, even taking them to the Calder Cup finals. That kind of track record doesn't go unnoticed. So, it was no surprise when he landed the coaching job for the Columbus Blue Jackets for two seasons.
Recently, he's been lending his expertise as the Jets' Associate Coach on Rick Bowness' staff. When Bowness announced his retirement, GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said whoever came in must continue the culture and precedent Bowness was leaving behind. There's no better choice than his assistant to assume that role.
