Toggle sidebar

Confirmed with Link: CBJ Fire Scott Howson, name Jarmo Kekalainen replacement

Status
Not open for further replies.

bizzz*

Guest
Kekalainen drafted Barulin, who is considered the best Russian goalie now. Barulin was a starter for team Russia at the Channel One cup in December where Russians had all their best players.
He signed Korpisalo last summer, so probably he has positive view on him.

In 3 years in Ottawa (1999-2001) he drafted Havlat 26th, Volchenkov 21st, Vermette 55th, Greg Zanon 156th, Chris Kelly 94th, Tim Gleason (who was traded for JMFJ) 23rd, Brooks Laich 193rd, Ray Emery 99th overall, and off course Spezza. All of them currently playing significant roles on their teams. That's 3 legit NHLers per draft. 6 of his 2001 draft picks played at least 150 NHL games. Ottawa has never been that successful after he left in 2002.

And he doesn't have to grow the garden in desert, Howson left a lot of tools to work with.
 

JacketsDavid

Registered User
Jan 11, 2013
2,665
910
That's a good start. Now evaluate Richards and decide what we need to do there. I'm assuming he's gone (may be gone soon if they know who they want and he is available or may have to wait until offseason).
If they could get a coach in place now it would be huge! A new coach would be able to assist them in deciding who stays and who goes (some guys fit in some systems, others don't). Would make the trade deadline a much easier thing to go thru rather than just making random moves.
Now a new coach wouldn't help much in the standings thi syear but having that guy in place could save us an entire season of building.

I trust JD.

Haven't said that about anyone in the Jacket's front office since Doug's first year when he must have tricked me :)
 
Celtic Note

Celtic Note

Living the dream
Dec 22, 2006
17,341
6,311
Excellent hire. I was really hoping the guy would become an NHL GM. That was his dream and the only reason he left the NHL in the first place.

Some of his favoritisms in players is passion, hockey sense and work ethic.

He also has an amazing eye for talent.

Can't wait to see what he does for the Jackets.

Congrats!
 
Nordique

Nordique

Add smoked meat, and we have a deal.
Aug 11, 2005
9,138
265
Ohio
Maybe Lehtonen will request a trade to Columbus now :)

This should be interesting. Will the first Euro GM attract talent from his home country?
 
alphafox

alphafox

Registered User
Jun 14, 2011
1,443
92
And with his second pick of the 2013data nhl entry draft Jarmo and the blue jackets select max domi
 
yoss

yoss

Registered User
May 25, 2011
3,006
37
Congrats BJs fans. :handclap:

I actually am much more interested in following your team now, looks like you went 2 for 2 on both the firing and hiring of your GM and it will be fun to see how Kekalainen does. First European GM too, that in itself is awesome.

You guys deserve something to be excited about. Not that I am that knowledgeable about GM's but it seemed clear pretty clear to me you were in need of a new direction.
 

Jackets16

Registered User
Jan 7, 2005
12,018
619
KeithBWhittington said:
What I like is that you aren't waiting till the end of the year/season to start this process, no "lame duck" status. JD recognized the need for change, made it decisively. Like I said, may or may not be a rousing success, but its a move towards what Davidson has been preaching since Day 1 here.
Click to expand...

I agree.
 
Robert

Robert

Foligno family
Mar 9, 2006
36,576
1,673
Louisville, KY
Nordique said:
Maybe Lehtonen will request a trade to Columbus now :)

This should be interesting. Will the first Euro GM attract talent from his home country?
Click to expand...

I would love Lehtonen.... I haven’t followed him closely but wanted him when he was drafted by Atlanta...

As for fins, I doubt Kek will give them any more preference than any other nationality-those that can play, compete and show signs of a winning attitude will be signed... THat said, some of the Fins he picked in the Finnish league may have a slight lead just because he knows them so well...
 

blahblah

Registered User
Nov 24, 2005
21,327
972
Thanks for the recap, interesting stuff. My response in based on what I'm reading both here and on twitter.

JD did mention savvy use of the FA market. He did single out a couple of the new guys as examples for culture change. I'm not sure how much I would read into people missing off that list, he wasn't going to list 10 guys or anything. That starts to go into singling guys out for poor performance to the public, which wouldn't be cool. However, I do expect us to be active based on what I am hearing.

What I like is that he isn't spending a bunch of time doing analysis, he is jumping right in. I don't expect anything too drastic, but not from a lack of trying.

It sounds like these two are going to have a short list of players to keep around by the off season. That is the kind of attitude I like. If they fit, keep them. If they don't, move them. I wouldn't even be surprised to see a buyout or two if it came to that.

I like the move based on what I see.

One last comment on Howson. He did do something good things while he was here, but I don't think he is a good GM candidate. If Howson wants to assume a strategic role in the org and JD/JK want him around, I have no issue with it. As I said before, I think there are roles that he would be very good for. Just not GM. That assumes that the relationship doesn't become toxic, if it isn't already.

Move over folks, it looks like the hockey IQ in the front off is starting to become NHL competitive. I expect more "bring in hockey knowledge" moves.
 
Double-Shift Lasse

Double-Shift Lasse

Just post better
Dec 22, 2004
34,649
15,879
Exurban Cbus
alphafox said:
Gonna be an even more interesting trade deadline. I think its interesting JD didn't mention a jacket veteran when ge singled out dubi and AA as playing the right way. I am becoming more certain that the trade deadline will be a major house cleaning of guys like Brass and Umby.
Click to expand...

I'm not "certain" of it but I took what he said and didn't say the same as you, that it was on purpose.

JacketsDavid said:
That's a good start. Now evaluate Richards and decide what we need to do there. I'm assuming he's gone (may be gone soon if they know who they want and he is available or may have to wait until offseason).
Click to expand...

Of course he'll be fired eventually - all coaches are. ;)
JD said in the presser he's OK with coaching staff moving forward. Of course, that's what you'd expect him to say, but... I'd guess the finish the season. (I figured same for Howson, too, though.)
 

blahblah

Registered User
Nov 24, 2005
21,327
972
Double-Shift Lassé said:
JD said in the presser he's OK with coaching staff moving forward. Of course, that's what you'd expect him to say, but... I'd guess the finish the season. (I figured same for Howson, too, though.)
Click to expand...

I fully expect him to discuss this topic with JK, with that being a priority for JK.

I'm not sure I buy JD's comments on the coaching staff, at least with Richards. I see a lot of questionable decisions made by Richards. JD isn't going to throw him under the bus to the media. Ultimately we may get another "Tough decision, we just had to make a move." comment a few months from now. Seems like JD likes to have his move lined up before he makes a move, so that move might be predictable if we pay close attention.
 
Last edited:
Robert

Robert

Foligno family
Mar 9, 2006
36,576
1,673
Louisville, KY
blahblah said:
I fully expect him to discuss this topic with JK, with that being a priority for JK.

I'm not sure I buy JD's comments on the coaching staff, at least with Richardson. I see a lot of questionable decisions made by Richardson. JD isn't going to throw him under the bus to the media. Ultimately we may get another "Tough decision, we just had to make a move." comment a few months from now. Seems like JD likes to have his move lined up before he makes a move, so that move might be predictable if we pay close attention.
Click to expand...

I think you mean Richards.... I've made the same error.
 
Nordique

Nordique

Add smoked meat, and we have a deal.
Aug 11, 2005
9,138
265
Ohio
Esa Tikkanen will be our next head coach. Time to refresh our knowledge of Tikkanese.
 
Beukeboom Fan

Beukeboom Fan

Registered User
Feb 27, 2002
16,146
2,099
Chicago, IL
Visit site
Just wanted to say "Congrats" on a great hire. Jarmo definitely has an eye for talent, and I think he, along with JD, is exactly what your organization has been dying for for the last 10 years. A high energy, intelligent, positive management team that understands the game, understands scouting and development, and will hold people accountable. I'm really excited for you guys, because you've DEFINITELY deserved better.



Just my own little diatribe - but it's interesting looking back at the teams that have struggled over the last 10-15 years, and they all have something in common - suspect ownership, and incompetent upper management. Teams like PHO, NYI, ATL, TB, BUFF all struggled when they've had ownership issues, combined with poor GM's. Teams with good upper mgmt (like NASH and even PHO to a lesser extent) have been able to ice a quality team despite of the ownership issues. The NHL's real failure during expansion doing the cash grab and taking anyone whose check wouldn't bounce. That caused some real long term issues, many of which they are still attempting to address (PHO).
 

blahblah

Registered User
Nov 24, 2005
21,327
972
Robert said:
I think you mean Richards.... I've made the same error.
Click to expand...

I am always doing things like that, fingers (and the mouth) aren't as fast as the brain. In this case it is partly because we have a Davidson now.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Ad

Latest posts

Upcoming events

Ad

Ad

Top Bottom
X