THE common message in yesterday's announcement that Scott Arniel would be the new head coach of the Manitoba Moose was one of readiness.

The 43-year-old former Jets and Moose left-winger has left his post as an assistant coach with the NHL's Buffalo Sabres to take the job he had twice interviewed for, becoming the fourth Moose coach in four seasons.

He succeeds Stan Smyl (2001-04), Randy Carlyle (2004-05) and Alain Vigneault (2005-06), most recently named the head coach of the NHL's Vancouver Canucks, Manitoba's NHL parent team.

"Pretty much everybody got a job out of it," Moose GM Craig Heisinger said of the 2004 process to find Smyl's successor. "Randy got it first, Alain got it second and Scott got it third.

"I don't think that's a slight against anybody and with all due respect to Arnie, now's his time. I think the experience he gained by not getting it the first and maybe even the second time makes him a better coach."

Sabres GM Darcy Regier said yesterday he was thrilled for Arniel. "If people ever wonder how badly he wanted to be a head coach, all you have to do is look at the sacrifice he made, especially from his family's point of view," Regier said. "I think he's a great choice, for the team and for your fans. We're thrilled for him and we're sorry to lose him."

Regier, while he was working for the Islanders, first met Arniel when he was playing for the IHL's Utah Grizzlies.

"I was meeting (coach) Butch Goring and he made a point of saying to me that there's a guy in that room who's going to be an outstanding coach someday," Regier said. "He introduced me to Scott Arniel.

"He's a student of the game, he's passionate about it, he's always learning and he's got a great work ethic. That always stuck with me."

Arniel left his assistant coach's job with Manitoba in 2002 for Buffalo but kept both his home and his family in Winnipeg.

In the 15 days since Vigneault's hiring in Vancouver, Arniel's perfect fit for the Moose became so apparent that there was next to no interviewing. Other candidates had been suggested, some even suggested themselves, but the Canucks needed little searching or convincing. Arniel himself said he wasn't interested in any other AHL job.

"I can tell you about his enthusiasm, his intelligence and his poise after having gone through a Stanley Cup run (with Buffalo)," said Vancouver vice-president and assistant GM Steve Tambellini, in Winnipeg for the announcement.

"With his history with Manitoba, I can't think of a better person not only lead the Manitoba team, but to lead Vancouver prospects."

Arniel admitted disappointment the last two summers but left that behind.

"This year I went back and I think I became an ever better coach with those experiences," Arniel said. "It's funny. You always think you're ready. You never know until you get put into the position.

"I think I've been in enough scenarios in my 25 years in hockey that I think I can handle it, that I know I can find an answer."

On hand to watch his friend and fellow 1981 draft pick introduced as Moose coach yesterday was James Patrick, whose final two years in Buffalo were while Arniel was on the coaching staff.

"Scotty was Lindy Ruff's right-hand guy, pretty close to being the associate coach," Patrick said. "I think he's been given a big responsibility but in my mind, he's learned from one of the best coaches in the NHL."

Patrick, who said he has retired as a player -- he might be an ideal candidate as a Moose assistant coach if there's an opening -- spent last season in Germany after a stellar NHL career. He said Arniel's passion will be evident.

"I know he lives and breathes the game, he analyzes it," Patrick said. "What kind of coach will he be? Demanding. I wouldn't say a players coach. He knows where they're coming from, having been in their shoes, but I think he believes in competing, and do you do that hard every night and are you well-conditioned and are you willing to learn?"

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca

Scott pro stops

1981 -- Winnipeg (NHL), the team's 2nd-round draft pick

1986 -- Buffalo

1990 -- Winnipeg

1991 -- New Haven, Maine (AHL) and Boston (NHL)

1992 -- San Diego (IHL)

1994 -- Houston (IHL) 1996 -- Utah (IHL)

1996-1999 -- Winnipeg (IHL)

2000 -- Moose assistant coach

2002 -- Buffalo, NHL assistant coach

2006 -- Moose head coach