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Report: Canucks eyeing ex-Columbus coach Arniel for AHL gig

Columbus Blue Jackets v Buffalo Sabres

BUFFALO, NY - OCTOBER 27: Scott Arniel , head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets watches play against the Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center on October 27, 2011 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

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According to the Vancouver Sun, the Canucks might turn back the clock in finding a replacement for Craig MacTavish, who recently left his heading coaching post with Vancouver’s AHL affiliate in Chicago.

Scott Arniel -- the former Columbus bench boss who coached Vancouver’s farm team when it was in Manitoba -- is being considered as the club’s next coach.

“Scotty would be on our list, for sure,” said Canucks assistant GM Lorne Henning. “There will probably be five or six guys and Scotty will be one.”

Arniel was fired by Columbus in January after a dismal 11-25-5 start to the campaign. He’s been out of work since, but sounded as though he’d relish the opportunity to get back in the coaching ranks, regardless of league.

“It is interesting,” Arniel told the Sun. “As a coach, you’re always looking at opportunities. I want to be an NHL head coach again but I don’t know if there is anything for me this year. Certainly there are some assistant jobs available but this one [Wolves] is intriguing.

“I know the organization very well and I’ve obviously worked with Mike Gillis and Lorne and Laurence Gilman. There is lots of respect there and I think we’ve had a really good arrangement in the past.”

Vancouver would need to speak with Columbus prior to officially contacting Arniel as he’s still under contract. That said, there does seem to be interest in having him coach the club’s prized prospects in Chicago, as Arniel has a reputation for working well with young players.

Current NHLers that played under him in Manitoba include Cory Schneider, Alex Edler, Mason Raymond, Jannik Hansen, Cody Hodgson and Michael Grabner.