Scott Arniel was appointed the new head coach of the Winnipeg Jets after Rick Bowness announced his retirement. While fans look forward to the start of Arniel’s tenure, they have some expectations going into the season. Here are a few things Arniel needs to do to ensure the Winnipeg Jets’ success this season.
Let the Youth Play
Despite the Jets relying heavily on their drafted players to fill their lineup spots, the team has a hard time giving their younger players a chance to make it to the big leagues. Cole Perfetti’s lack of ice time was a massive source of contention as fans say he’s more than proven his ability to be a key offensive player. He only played one game during the playoffs, and Bowness was quick to bench him if something went wrong.
Arniel insists that the NHL’s youth are “vital” to team success, especially in the salary cap era. To simultaneously improve the team and win fan favour, Arniel should try increasing Perfetti’s ice time and role on the team. In 71 games, Perfetti recorded 38 points with an average time on ice of 13:35, and if Arniel allows him to reach somewhere between 15 and 17 minutes a night, his stats will only go up.
Arniel may also finally be the one to give Ville Heinola a roster spot. He was poised to make the starting lineup last year until he was sidelined with a fractured ankle, but assuming he can stay healthy, Heinola may be a key piece in filling the hole left in the defense by Brenden Dillon’s absence. In 41 games with the Manitoba Moose, Heinola record 27 points, and if he can translate that success to the NHL, the Jets will be in good shape. Arniel also has several other prospects to work with, such as Brad Lambert and Nikita Chibrikov, who both made their NHL debuts last season. If the youth are the future of the Jets’ success, then it’s time for Arniel to start fulfilling the organization’s vision and allow them more playing time in the NHL.
Fix the Special Teams
The Jets’ special teams last year were rough to say the least. The team’s penalty kill ranked 21st in the league with a 77.1% success rate, and the team’s power play percentage ranked 22nd in the league at 18.8%. Scott Arniel has two new assistant coaches behind him, Davis Payne and Dean Chynoweth, who will hopefully find a way to sort things out. Payne was briefly the head coach of the St. Louis Blues for part of the 2009-10…
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