Noel: Jets players need to be 'fed up' with losing
/Claude Noel gave The Winnipeg Free Press an exclusive interview, his first since being fired as head coach of the Jets. The discussion is wide-ranging; his answers are incredibly thoughtful and honest.
On if the Jets can be a playoff team:
"First of all, they're in a tough conference. I think that they can, but some people are going to have to step up and have good years. Some are going to have to step up and take a bite. To make yourself accountable to each other, take a bite, and say 'we've had enough.' I'm saying that of the players. You just have to take hold of the team.
"I felt, when I had this team, we could make the playoffs. But we needed to be better, and stronger in some areas. It's got to hurt more to lose. You have to be tired of it. You gotta be fed up. They have to decide what they're going to do. I think they're capable, but some people are going to have to have good years."
He loved coaching the Jets. Loved Winnipeg.
"I got to coach in a Canadian market that was real frenzied and very passionate, which I thought was fabulous. I wouldn't change it for the world. I look back at three years, what an experience. I was blessed. There's 30 teams in the NHL and I got to coach one of them in Canada.
"What I love about Winnipeg is the passion, the people and the environment. It's a perfect place. Yeah, they want to win but you know what? They're realistic. For me, they want to be proud of their team and how they work. They know there's a process. They're intelligent and I think it's a great place to play."