The Columbus Blue Jackets have parted ways with general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen. The team’s President of Hockey Operations, John Davidson, will share the general manager duties with the rest of the hockey operations staff while Columbus searches for a replacement, per team reporter Aaron Portzline.
Kekäläinen has been with the Blue Jackets for 11 seasons, taking over for Scott Howson in 2013. He was just the fourth general manager in the team’s history and became the first to lead them to multiple playoff appearances. Unfortunately, those playoff appearances never turned into much – with a second-round exit in 2014 marking the farthest the team has ever made it. And it seems those days may be behind them, as Columbus hasn’t made the playoffs – or even ranked above sixth in their division – since 2020. They are currently ranked last in the Metropolitan Division with a 16-26-10 record this season.
Columbus’ recent seasons have instead been marked by top 10 draft picks, including taking Kent Johnson fifth overall in 2021, David Jiricek sixth overall in 2022, and Adam Fantilli third overall in 2023. While Johnson did manage 16 goals and 40 points last season, he’s on an 82-game pace of just 36 points this season, even playing in his first 10 AHL games of his three-year pro career. Jiricek has yo-yoed between the major and minor leagues, playing in nine AHL games and 36 NHL games this season – but failing to yet earn a role on the team’s special teams and managing just nine points. The best impact from a recent draft pick has undeniably come through Adam Fantilli, who currently ranks third on the team in scoring with 12 goals and 27 points through 49 games. But even Fantilli hasn’t been safe from headache, playing with 10 different linemates this season, more than his counterparts Connor Bedard and Leo Carlsson combined.
The usage of the team’s top prospects ultimately falls on rookie head coach Pascal Vincent, who was thrust into a head coaching role after the Blue Jackets unsuccessfully tried to bring back Mike Babcock. The long-time Toronto Maple Leafs head coach ran into controversy even before he was able to command the Columbus bench for the first time, leading to his resignation in mid September.
Kekäläinen’s biggest strength – and the talent that will certainly earn him attention from other NHL teams – is his drafting ability. The Blue Jackets boast plenty of top prospects, including Denton Mateychuk, Stanislav Svozil, and Gavin Brindley. These talents, along with their trio of top 10 picks, sets up Columbus well for the future. But there will need to be a lot of polishing around the edges if the team wants to find consistent playoff success. They’ll look to find that success under John Davidson, now the fifth general manager in team history, or whoever may succeed him.
Pack
about time
Champagne popping in the CLB tonite.
Surprised he lasted so long with such a mediocre track record.
Not gonna be any better with Davidson lol. Would my pop that champagne just yet.
Well, that’s going to at least shake up the trade deadline. Huberdeau for Johnny G!!!
So are they sellers or bystanders at the deadline? They didn’t want Jarmo in charge in either case…
Finally! Is it the end of the Circus Blue Jackets?
Sure…but what odd timing.
Finally !!
Hopefully, JD won’t be anything more than interim GM. Who is better than Jarmo? Probably quite a few, just nobody named Hextall.
mannnnnnnn, you’re forgetting ol’ trader Pete he takes the cake as the worst GM these days imho
@Mac – I hear Poile wants another shot at mediocrity! :D
@Donovan Voigt — Yes, I did neglect to mention him, and I agree with that assessment, too. I also omitted Trader Bob, as well. And, as @Gbear reminds me, GMDP can’t be left out, either, nor Pierre D. formerly of the Ottawa Operation. Or Jimbo from Vancouver, or a dreaded John Chayka mention, or even M. Bergevin. I sure hope everybody is done eating tonight, as that was enough to spoil anybody’s appetite. :(
Jarmo and JD should have been fired after the Babcock debacle. No reason to celebrate until JD is sent packing as well.
I thought this was inevitable after that disaster even if he wasn’t fired immediately.
I can’t even fathom why it took them this long to do this.
Patrik Laine … organization finally had enough of Kekäläinen