Blue Jackets name Arniel as coach

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Scott Arniel was interested in the Columbus Blue Jackets even before they showed any interest in him.

Arniel, introduced as the Blue Jackets new head coach on Tuesday, said of the four NHL teams who were looking for a head coach in recent weeks, he singled out the Blue Jackets.

“I had a big circle around Columbus,” he said at the news conference announcing his hiring. “I thought it was the perfect fit for me at this time.

The 47-year-old Arniel was the head coach of Manitoba of the American Hockey League for the past four seasons. He succeeds interim coach Claude Noel, who took over on Feb. 3 when Ken Hitchcock was fired.

Arniel takes over a young team that took a step backward a year ago after making its first trip to the NHL playoffs.

Arniel was offered the job on Monday, shortly after it was turned down by Hamilton Bulldogs coach Guy Boucher.

General manager Scott Howson phoned Arniel on Monday afternoon. Arniel thought the call was to tell him that Boucher had been hired.

“When I got the call yesterday, I thought it was going to be the ’thanks for coming’ speech,” he said with a laugh. “But it was the other way. It did kind of floor me. But I jumped in my car and drove to my wife’s business. My son met me over there. I just said to her, ‘I don’t have anything to wear.’ She didn’t know what I was talking about and I said, ‘I’ve got to go to Columbus tomorrow.’ And they both came out of their shoes.”

The Blue Jackets are one of the youngest teams in the NHL, led by right wing Rick Nash, who turns 26 on June 16, and 22-year-old goaltender Steve Mason. The club has a solid core of 20-something players, also including Antoine Vermette, R.J. Umberger, Jake Voracek and Derick Brassard. But after going 41-31-10 (92 points) for the franchise’s first winning record and making the playoffs two years ago, the Blue Jackets sagged to 32-35-15 (79 points) this past season.

Arniel has a reputation of working well with young players.