Arr! The Columbus Blue Jackets be givin' GM Kekalainen the ol' heave-ho as he be sailin' his 11th season!
2024-02-15
Arrr, me hearties! The Columbus Blue Jackets be givin' ol' Jarmo Kekalainen the heave-ho as their third-longest captain of the NHL crew. Three weeks afore the trade deadline, they be cuttin' him loose from his sailor's post. Avast, me mateys!
The Columbus Blue Jackets made the surprising decision to fire general manager Jarmo Kekalainen after over a decade in the role. The team's president of hockey operations, John Davidson, made the call amid the Blue Jackets' disappointing performance this season. Davidson and the hockey operations team will temporarily take on the GM duties until a permanent replacement is found.The decision comes as the Blue Jackets find themselves in last place in the Eastern Conference and on track to miss the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year. The team has been struggling since their last playoff appearance in 2020 and has faced additional controversies, such as the botched hiring of coach Mike Babcock, who was forced to resign due to his conduct with players.
Ownership initially stated that there would be no front office changes, but the lack of success and mounting pressure led to Kekalainen's dismissal. Despite the difficult decision, Davidson expressed his respect for Kekalainen and acknowledged his contributions during his time with the team.
Kekalainen took over as GM in 2013 and had some success, including four consecutive playoff appearances under coach John Tortorella. However, the team's performance declined, and Kekalainen's hiring of Babcock turned out to be a major risk that backfired.
With the firing of Kekalainen, significant changes may be on the horizon for the Blue Jackets, including potential coaching changes. The team's underwhelming results under current coach Pascal Vincent and their overall struggles this season indicate that more adjustments may be necessary for the team to find success.