Scott Arniel.

BY ARASH MADANI
sportsnet.ca

Scott Arniel, who spent four years as an assistant under Lindy Ruff in Buffalo before taking the Manitoba Moose to the Calder Cup final as the AHL team's head coach, will be named the fifth head coach in Columbus Blue Jackets history on Tuesday afternoon, sportsnet.ca has learned.

Arniel accepted the position after Guy Boucher of the Hamilton Bulldogs turned down the job on Monday.

Arniel, 47, played in the NHL for the Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins as part of a lengthy pro career (1981-1999) that included stops in both the AHL and IHL.

The Kingston, Ontario native was the AHL coach of the year in 2009 -- his third behind the bench for the Moose.

Arniel had previously interviewed with Columbus general manager Scott Howson and his name has been the topic of much speculation to be an NHL coach.

Arniel worked for Ruff between 2002 and 2006 as an assistant coach.