Comments on: Inevitable: Blue Jackets fire Scott Arniel

By: elvispocomo

elvispocomo — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 19:23:08 +0000

Agreed, there’s just too much going on there (or not going on) to account for the piss-poor results on the ice. the off-season aquisitions were a legitimate step and it’s hard to fault anyone but Mason for his performance, but this team really should be better considering all the chances they’d had at the draft after not making the playoffs every year.

By: east96st

east96st — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:54:30 +0000

cbjfan – Absolutely 100% correct. All this is, is a band-aid on an amputation. Not a fan of Arniel, but to blame this entire disaster on him is pathetic and shows that people don’t understand who’s pulling the strings in Columbus – PRIEST!!! As long as the owner’s stockbroker is the President and has FINAL say on every move, this team is going nowhere. Simply the most poorly managed franchise in professional sports. And coming soon, this “wonderful” civic treasure will be tax payer supported!!! When those revenues from the casino start flowing to the Jackets, they will have even LESS incentive to get their house in order. After all, THEY are getting paid, WE are paying for their mistake in signing the worse arena lease in sports after the Islanders, so WHY put together a decent team? It won’t matter if no one is in the seats, they will have a steady stream of casino money coming in. And you and I will get the “privilege” of paying more taxes to pay for the roads, schools, construction, etc., because the casino money that WAS supposed to pay for those things will be flowing right into McConnell’s wallet. I’m really starting to hate this franchise and the people who run it. And I’m really starting to resent the press that refuses to report on how this is going from a hockey team to a white elephant that is proving to be a lead anchor around the necks of the city and it’s residents.

By: cbjfan75

cbjfan75 — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:18:08 +0000

This should be the first of 4 this week in Columbus, next should be Howson, Priest, and Mason…

By: pavelfitzgerald

pavelfitzgerald — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:02:06 +0000

I disagree with Joe’s line about how Arniel deserves a lot of blame here. Looking at their roster it’s clear to see that they are about as thin as Donald Trumps hair. Howson has been an awful GM who has made awful free agent signings & even worse trades. Arniel has a proven track record as a head coach in the minors. That doesn’t always translate to the pros but before anyone starts making it out that this is all Arniel’s fault just take a look at the roster. This teams ineptness has Howson’s fingerprints all over it

By: rabidbillsfan

rabidbillsfan — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:40:58 +0000

@Buffalomafia
Buffalo’s situation is alot diffrent than that of the other teams who fired thier coaches. First, the Sabres made the post-season last year on a clear turnaround orchestrated by Ruff. Sure, Washinton did too, but Ruff hasn’t had public standoffs with any of his “Star” players like Boudreu and Ovi. Anaheim, Montreal and LA were just bad, really bad to start the year, even though they made the playoffs the previous year, the coaches had to go ASAP for the team to hopefully turn it around. Also, Buffalo has had the absolute worst luck with injuries, I swear Lindy pulls his lines out of a hat, because at this point, it doesn’t matter who plays where because next game it will change. The Sabres have also been playing better as of late, Miller is regaining some form, and the team has energy for the first time since the Euro-trip. Yes, a move needs to be made, but that is a player move, not a coach move. This team has an extremely important stretch here in the next 2 weeks, if they can put together a win streak, or even point streak of 4-5 games out of their next 7, they are right back in the thick of things.

By: jagrbomb18

jagrbomb18 — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:29:29 +0000

Thanks again columns for taking jeff carter and his horrible contract from Philly and then giving up not only vorocek but COUTURIER ahahahahah what a waste of a franchise move that horrible team to Quebec or trade Rick Nash

By: bcisleman

bcisleman — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:02:45 +0000

It may just be my imagination, but the Jackets had seemed to be playing better hockey…so the timing seems strange.

By: icelovinbrotha215

icelovinbrotha215 — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:50:45 +0000

It doesn’t matter who you have there behind the bench, this team isn’t good. And yea, Jeff Carter isn’t really living up to everyone’s expectations. Go figure.

By: contraryguy

contraryguy — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:26:39 +0000

Finally, acknowledgment that the season is essentially shot. The FA pickups are injured, Mason is a head case and the CBJ still have no defense after 10 seasons. See you next October, Jackets, I’d like to say it was worth watching even on the good days but… no.

By: govtminion

govtminion — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:26:38 +0000

Howson might want to ask if Arniel has any spare boxes left over when he’s done cleaning out his office. If there’s any justice, Howson will need them before the draft. Arniel didn’t do well in Columbus, obviously, but he also didn’t get handed much to work with. And that, as you can imagine, falls on Howson. Or SHOULD, anyway.

By: davebabychreturns

davebabychreturns — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:20:48 +0000

I think his decision to have Jeff Carter separate his shoulder must’ve been the last straw.

By: bigbear42

bigbear42 — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:14:41 +0000

The only reason this took so long I can fathom is that the coach they wanted to replace him with was not available or something along those lines

By: buffalomafia

buffalomafia — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:03:30 +0000

Im surprised Buffalo hasnt fired thete coach & GM yet?

Then again everything in Buffalo sports is just plain mediocrity!!!