The Jets are more interested in paying respect to Bowness than the job for Arniel

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When Rick Bowness retired, Scott Arniel was one of the top contenders to replace him behind the Winnipeg Jets bench.

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So it was surprising that the Jets' community coach was ready for questions during his farewell to his boss on Monday.

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Few are more qualified, however, as Arniel played with Bowness' original Jets in the 1980s and later worked as an assistant coach under him in Boston and Winnipeg.

Arniel admitted he was interested in talking to Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff and co-owner Mark Chipman about the sudden job opening.

“It's Rick's day, so I won't go too far into it,” Arniel said. “Chevy, Mark, they know my intentions. They know what I want. We talk more. It's really in the early stages. We'll let the process take its course.”

Promoting Arniel would be a continuation of the continued transition and potential progress the Jets have made under Bowness over the past two seasons.

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He also has head coaching experience, albeit with an unsuccessful two-season stint with Columbus from 2010-2012.

He also led the Jets penalty kill this season.

“You want that next guy to go his way,” Jets GM Kevin Cheveldyeff said of Bowness' eventual replacement. “But we understand that we have to continue what is being built here.”

Arniel, 61, has strong ties to the Jets organization.

Drafted in 1981, he finished his playing career with the Manitoba Moose, then in the IHL, and coached the Moose as an assistant and head coach for four seasons in the AHL.

He spent 23 seasons behind the bench, 16 of which were in the NHL, including as an assistant coach with the New York Rangers and Jets.

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All that experience, and Arniel says he's still learned something during his time at Bowness over the past two years.

“His honesty and directness, his ability to connect with the players,” he said. “I've never (seen him) like the last two years. That's how he realizes what needs to be fixed and attacks that particular thing that day. And he wants to make sure that he does not leave his foundation.

“I've had some great people who have helped me in my coaching career and it's near the top.”

Bowness' announcement was attended by three players, captain Adam Lowry, Mason Appleton and Vlad Namestnikov.

Lowry said that while he knew his head coach would call it a career, he didn't know for sure until he got a call from him Sunday night.

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Lowry described him as “a great communicator.” “The environment and the atmosphere in the room … he really made sure everyone had a voice. I can't say enough good things about him.”

As Lowry put it, Bowness took over the Jets “when they were mumbling that we weren't in such a good place” and was a key figure in changing the team's culture.

He leaves with more games as a head or assistant coach than anyone in NHL history.

“For him to end on his own terms, to retire and spend more time with his family and to walk away with his head held high and not leave with a bad taste in his mouth … we're definitely going to miss him,” Lowry said. “He is a wonderful person. He deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.”

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