I was originally going to post this as a comment to the game recap from last night's epic collapse at the feet of the Preds, but decided my rant would be better served as a FanPost instead of an annoying long comment.

I've been a proponent of keeping Arniel so far this season. No team will show consistent improvement if their coaches and identity are changing every other season. I believed that, while Arniel might not be a great coach, this team is more in need of stability in order to develop chemistry with the number of new players on this team. I also believe stability is necessary for the young guys like Johan to develop to their full potential.

However, I've begun to reconsider my opinion of Arniel's fate. Even as a Jackets fan I don't think I've ever seen a collapse quite like this one to give away an otherwise well played game. Still, shitting the bed in one game doesn't necessitate a coaching change. Consistently giving up goals in the final minutes of periods does however.

The Jackets have embraced the Christmas spirit, giving gifts to opposing teams with soft goals right before the end of the period. They're checking off their list. Again, it happens every so often with all teams, but the frequency that it is happening to the Jackets is maddening, and I believe it stems from poor coaching.

When you consider the late period goals with all the other short comings from the coaching staff, including (but not limited to) Arniel's lineup bingo and questionable treatment of promising young players, it is getting increasingly hard for me to advocate not firing Scott Arniel. I'd love to hear some compelling reasons to keep him around, but at this point I believe it is time for him to go. He's at the end of his rope.