Who Wore It: Sabres History – #9
Today, we’ll learn about one of the 17 players in Sabres history to wear the #9. He spent a good portion of his NHL career with the original Winnipeg Jets, but also spent time with the Sabres – and other teams – before eventually heading into the coaching world, where he resides today. Who is he? Scott Arniel.
sportslogos.net
SCOTT ARNIEL
Left wing, b. 1962
Acquired via trade from WPG, 1986
Arniel, a native of Kingston, Ontario, played 730 regular season games in his NHL career. He spent the majority of that time with the Winnipeg Jets, but also saw action with the Boston Bruins and, of course, the Sabres.
The left winger was originally drafted by the Jets in 1981, 22nd overall. He spent the first four and a half seasons of his NHL career with the Jets, until he was traded to the Sabres on June 21, 1986.
Arniel spent the next four seasons with the Sabres. Over his career, he played 295 games with the Sabres, notching 138 points and 243 penalty minutes in the blue and gold. His best season with the Sabres came in 1988-89, when he scored 18 goals and 23 assists for 41 points in 80 games. He also had one goal and four penalty minutes in five playoff games.
He would then return back to Winnipeg via trade on June 16, 1990. The Sabres sent Arniel, Phil Housley, Jeff Parker and a draft pick to Winnipeg in exchange for Dale Hawerchuk and a draft pick.
After one season, the Jets traded Arniel to the Boston Bruins, and it was up and down from there. He played 29 games for the Bruins, but also spent parts of the 1991-92 season with the Maine Mariners and New Haven Nighthawks, both of the AHL.
The next season, it was off to the IHL, which is where he’d spend the rest of his playing career. First, it was the San Diego Gulls; next, the Houston Aeros, then Utah Grizzlies and finally, the Manitoba Moose.
Overall in his career, Arniel played just 25 AHL games, but 730 NHL games and 530 IHL games.
He went on to coaching and held several positions, including an assistant coach position with the Sabres from 2002 until 2006. Arniel was head coach of the AHL’s Manitoba Moose from 2006 until 2010, when he became head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets. He stayed there until 2012, when he became head coach of the AHL’s Chicago Wolves.
Arniel is currently an associate coach with the NY Rangers.
Other players to wear #9 for the Sabres: Steve Ott, Derek Roy, Erik Rasmussen, Vaclav Varada, Viktor Gordiouk, Greg Brown, Gilles Hamel, Mike Moller, J.F. Sauve, Rick Dudley, Jacques Richard, Norm Gratton, Rick Martin, Butch Deadmarsh, Danny Lawson, Reggie Fleming