The Winnipeg Jets' new head coach will be a familiar name to fans.

The club announced on Friday afternoon that Scott Arniel will be the fourth head coach in Jets 2.0 history. Arniel has been in Winnipeg for the past two seasons as an associate coach, and served as an interim head coach on three separate occasions when former head coach Rick Bowness had to step away for family and health reasons.

Arniels history with Winnipeg goes back even further than the past two seasons. He was drafted by the original Winnipeg Jets in the second round of the 1981 NHL Draft. He spent the first five seasons of his pro career playing for the Jets, and returned for the 1990-91 season. He recorded 338 points with 149 goals and 189 assists throughout 730 games.

His coaching career began in 1995-96 when he was a player/coach with the IHL's Houston Aeros. He then came to the Manitoba Moose as an assistant after retiring as a player in 1999.

Arniel got his first taste of the head coach position in the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2010-11 season. He was released halfway through his second season with the club, coaching the team to a record of 45-60-18.

After he was released from the Blue Jackets, "He returned to the AHL as head coach of the Chicago Wolves in 2012-13 before serving as associate coach of the New York Rangers for five seasons (2013-18)," according to NHL.com. "Arniel then served as an assistant coach for the Washington Capitals for four seasons (2019-22). His NHL experience is highlighted by a trip to the Stanley Cup Final with the Rangers in 2014. He also made the Eastern Conference Final on two other occasions (Sabres – 2006 and Rangers – 2015) and the Rangers also won the Presidents’ Trophy in 2014-15."

Today's news comes only three weeks after Rick Bowness announced his retirement.

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