- TSN’s Darren Dreger says a Jets coaching change is not on the radar yet
- Winnipeg is 4-8-3 and winless in nine games
- Read below for what Dreger said it would take and where the Jets play next
Scott Arniel’s job is safe for the moment, even with the Jets in a freefall.
TSN insider Darren Dreger said Tuesday on Early Trading that Winnipeg is not looking at a coaching change right now. He was asked at what point desperation forces a shakeup for a team that has gone nine games without a win.
Dreger pointed to Arniel’s own description of Sunday’s 7-0 loss in Carolina, which the coach called frustrating and an embarrassment.
“You can’t have too many more of those before the general manager or above is going to have to get involved,” Dreger said. “But they’re not there yet.”
Watch Dreger break it down:
Dreger said the calls for Arniel to go are coming mostly from the fan base and local media. He also pointed to the schedule. Winnipeg played Tampa Bay and Florida back-to-back, then ran into a Carolina team that had the better part of two days of rest.
Some of the trouble is self-inflicted, he said. The defensive game hasn’t been good enough, which puts more pressure on the goaltending, and the Jets haven’t finished their chances. Josh Morrissey missing time hasn’t helped. “It can’t continue for very much longer,” Dreger said.
Arniel talked about his job after the Carolina game. He said it wasn’t on his mind and that it’s beyond his control, as we covered in our post on his reaction. Here’s how he put it:
The Jets are 4-8-3 and sit seventh in the Central Division, six points back of the final wild-card spot in the West. Their last win came Oct. 13, a 5-2 victory over Minnesota. Stuart Skinner was pulled in back-to-back games, and we walked through the earlier stretch of the slide when it was at seven.
Winnipeg also put Brad Lambert on waivers Tuesday, a move we reported here.
The Jets finish a four-game road trip Tuesday night in Montreal before a three-game homestand that opens a spot on the calendar everyone in Winnipeg has circled. Connor Hellebuyck returns with the Devils on Nov. 10.
