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

[Ceff Jarter]

I actually really like the timing here. This week has been a refreshing breath of air.

After the SJ game and seeing Cody with that goofyass belt it kinda hit me: this is the first time in forever I've seen any cohesion in the locker room. I also get a vibe that this team is willing to play hard and is actually hungry for results. BTW taking a WWE belt into a country club would be frowned upon

 

[Paisano*]

We'll go, 'far Mo', with Jarmo!!

 

[Socks]

As disappointed and pissed off as I was with losing out on first overall to Edmonton last summer, that's how excited and happy I am today. I'm so psyched. It's like Christmas in February. We finally have a cohesive team at the top and that's going to trickle down to the guys in the room, I can just feel it. Good day to be a Jackets fan!!!

 

[The Right Price]

In the Jokerit presser Kekalainen was asked if the drafting of CBJ will become more European oriented. Kekalainen answered that absolutely not, that nationalities won't matter, and that in someway he is even more harder on the Finns then most.

What a day for Finnish hockey. Will become a Blue Jackets bandwagoner in a way.

I don't understand why people say he is overrated! On paper, Kekalainen seems to be the almost perfect GM as he has played on the NHL level, scouted, has a MSc in Economics (for the day to day stuff) and just seem to be a great person with other people. Sure he has made some bust picks but name me one scout who hasn't.

He's also a good friend of Penguins GM Ray Shero, as he was brought up in the Jokerit presser.

Off topic: Didn't Tikkanen couch in Korea at one stage?

 

[yoss]

I like how he specifically states in the presser his intentions of creating a Stanley Cup contender. Seems to have his priorities right.

 

[Beukeboom Fan]

That would be interesting. Play the old school Oiler way and he'll teach everyone how to play on the edge like he did. As a former Ranger fan, he was the one of the guys that put the "94 team over the cliff to the Cup.

I think that's a really dangerous line of thought. If history has taught us anything, elite level ex-players are 100% unable to teach what made them special to the next generation. You can't "teach" anyone to play like Esa did back in the day - that is something that you either have or don't. It's something in a players DNA or personality that makes him be that agitator and a super-pest. I don't think that Esa could any more teach Brassard to be that kind of player than Gretzky could teach Mueller or Turris to dominate from behind the net.

I'm sure that Jarmo will select a coach that shares his philisophy on how to compete in the current NHL. I'd be shocked by some "style of substance" hire like Esa or the equivelant.

 

[LetsGOJackets!!]

Welcome Jarmo..

As mentioned earlier, I like a guy that doesn't spend much time at the podium bsing. Jarmo has a plan, knows which players he wants and gets them. This is going to get very interesting in Columbus.

I can't wait for Columbus to get a good competitive team, and go on a decade long run of contention. I don't care about nationalities, I just want to win!!!!

PS thanks to all visitors for their kind words, lets get to work

 

[JacketFanInFL]

I like how he specifically states in the presser his intentions of creating a Stanley Cup contender. Seems to have his priorities right.

Yep. No more "hopefully we'll make the playoffs" loser mentality in that front office. It's a beautiful step.

 

[sa cyred]

This is perfect for a team that has 3 first round picks this up and coming draft. Even if the Kings and Rangers do well, he has a good ability to choose good players later on in the draft.

 

[bizzz*]

Valterri Filpulla's brother is playing for Jokerit this year and Valterri is a UFA in the off-season. Maybe our new GM can help the Jackets and put another nail in the Wing's coffin.

Valterri himself played for Jokerit during the lockout along with Erik Karlsson.

 

[MattTheMask]

1995-1999 IFK Helsinki, General Manager
1999-2002 Ottawa Senators, Director of Player Personnel
2002-2005 St Louis Blues, Director of Amateur Scouting
2005-2010 St Louis Blues, Assistant GM & Director of Amateur Scouting
2010-2013 Jokerit Helsinki, President & General Manager
2013-2XXX Columbus Blue Jackets, General Manager?

Fun facts:

- Bachelor of Science in Management, Clarkson University
- Runs marathons in his spare time. Ran the Boston marathon under three hours.
- Finished 3rd in the annual Finnish Bruce Willis look-a-like competition.

Really excited about this guy.

Also love all the Finns coming here and jumping onboard the CBJ train! Welcome!!!

 

[Finnpin]

Next to him, Kekäläinen garners the best possible henchmen. The scouts who ignored Milan Lucic of Boston Bruins, he fires.

He isn't afraid to pull the trigger

 

[Stealth JD]

Congrats to the CBJ fans and organization. Jarmo is a great hockey mind and will get the Jackets back into contention in no time. It's nice to see Davidson and Kekalainen back in the NHL so quickly after having done a terrific job for my Blues. Here's to great rivalry reborn with STL. It's a shame you guys are in our division, or I'd otherwise secretly pull for your organization now.

 

[plong123]

Off topic: Didn't Tikkanen couch in Korea at one stage?

Yep, and I just found this gem of a blog post about the experience:

http://atethepaint.blogspot.com/2010/12/tikkanen-incident.html
(it takes a couple of paragraphs to get to the Tikkanen bit, but it pays off by the end)

 

[Fro]

He isn't afraid to pull the trigger

good to hear...and LOVE the user name...

 

[Riofan]

Congrats to CBJ fans! When the Kings brought in Dean Lombardi April 21, 2006 it wasn't until the following draft that he had his scouting team in place. In the 2006 draft he relied on the existing scouting staff from the previous regime. Moving forward, what a difference a competent scouting staff and GM makes.

With JD you have a bright future ahead. Best of luck!

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Sounds like a solid hire, I just hope we don't get too many European soft type players, I like being a tough team, that seems to be the way league is gravitating towards

Said the guy with the Don Cherry avatar. Pretty classy.

In the Jokerit presser Kekalainen was asked if the drafting of CBJ will become more European oriented. Kekalainen answered that absolutely not, that nationalities won't matter, and that in someway he is even more harder on the Finns then most.

JD also said in his presser that he doesn't care about nationality as long as the player plays "the right way."

 

[CapnCornelius]

Valterri himself played for Jokerit during the lockout along with Erik Karlsson.

Yeah, I gotta admit, I looked at Jokerit's lineup during the lockout and my jaw dropped. I'd take that team right now.

This guy is not going to mess around. He wants to win and he's going to build the team to do it.

 

[Skraut]

You people should be way happier than you are right now. I don't see the elation I expected. Do you guys have that problem that prinsoners do when they are locked up for so long they prefer the bars to the uncertainty?

This is one hell of a good hire. Amazing. It's going to make a massive difference. Hockey should be huge in that city as long as the team gets some success. If I was a billionaire, it is the first franchise I would kick the tires on.

We've been sold so many new coaches, sure fire draft picks, and front office staff all who would turn this team into a winner, that it's hard to get super excited.

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me, fool me 50 times, and I must be a Blue Jackets fan.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

We've been sold so many new coaches, sure fire draft picks, and front office staff all who would turn this team into a winner, that it's hard to get super excited.

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me, fool me 50 times, and I must be a Blue Jackets fan.

 

[JacketFanInFL]

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me, fool me 50 times, and I must be a Blue Jackets fan.

LOL

 

[bizzz*]

Congrats to CBJ fans! When the Kings brought in Dean Lombardi April 21, 2006 it wasn't until the following draft that he had his scouting team in place. In the 2006 draft he relied on the existing scouting staff from the previous regime. Moving forward, what a difference a competent scouting staff and GM makes.

With JD you have a bright future ahead. Best of luck!

So the first pick of Lombardi's scouting staff was... Thomas Hickey 4th overall.

 

[EverybodyLovesRay]

It's very hard to see Keku leaving Jokerit but at the same time I haven't been this excited about NHL club in a long time, which is kinda sad tbh..
I've been reading about Blue Jackets and their prospects for the last few hours and I think that with Keku's help the whole organization will improve a lot for the following years.
I'll definitely stick to these Columbus boards and will be cheering for the team for now on..
Let's go Jackets!

 

[redsfanhere*]

what a great hire go jackets

 

[Paisano*]

We've been sold so many new coaches, sure fire draft picks, and front office staff all who would turn this team into a winner, that it's hard to get super excited.

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me, fool me 50 times, and I must be a Blue Jackets fan.

Classic!! Hits the nail squarely on the head!!