1857 Howitzer
******* Linesman
“@JimDayTV: “@cbusbj99: So with Tuesday’s developments, are we any closer to seeing you at Nationwide Arena again sometime? #CBJ // nope, sorry”
Confirmed with Link: CBJ Fire Scott Howson, name Jarmo Kekalainen replacement
- Thread starter ClevelandJacketFan
- Start date
- Status
Mediocre results? In his first year he built a team that took the eventual champions to seven games in the first round of playoffs. In his second year his team finished 3rd in SM-liiga. This season Jokerit are leading the standings by quite a large margin and likely to win the regular season, and are one of the favourites to win it all. Yeah, he had the most money to invest but the results were very far from mediocre. It's also worth to mention that the teams he built made progress each year result-wise.
That's it, you totally sold me.
Jarmo couldn't match the draft success of a team who was able to grab a pair of twins in the top 5, and got a top end goaltender for virtually nothing. A team which had Boston dump a first overall pick on, another team with 3 top 3 picks in 4 years, and a team with 5 top 5 picks in 5 years.
His draft picks in late teens, early 20's aren't superstars like the players drafted first overall, they're merely very good players contributing to a team which was 2 points out of the president's trophy.
We were much better off with our current drafting plan of getting busts in the top 10 as opposed to very good players later in the first round.
What the heck is JD thinking?
5StringBuzz
Registered User
Spending the most isn't a guarantee. Look at last year, when the CBJ payroll was in the top five in the NHL, yet we finished last. Spending wisely is the most important thing, and it sounds like Jarmo has done that with Jokerit.
Blues fans perspective on this is...
Guys like Oshie, Perron and Backes were selected 24th, 26th and 62nd in the draft. Damn his incompetence for building a very solid team with late first round picks!
There seems to be this idea that the Blues sucked for years and benefitted from great draft situations. We had 3 top 10 picks, first overall in a year where the consensus #1 never materialised into the player people expected, the fourth overall where we got one of the best defensemen in the NHL and we traded down with our 9th overall. The Blues team was built on solid drafting in the mid/late first round and later. Unfortunately we were never in a position to draft a locked superstar forward, until maybe Tarasenko.
I can sit here and point out "mistakes" that he made at the draft, but only a total idiot would expect a scout to have a 100% record on picking who the best player will be in 5 years time. It is all about having more wins than losses on how the players develop, and Jarmo is one of the best, if not the best in that category. You guys have a winner here, and you deserve it.
And here's another reason to keep Howson in the organisation. He's a great trader. He's made a few mistakes at personnel department (coaching, goaltending) or at contracts management (Mason, Brass, Umby) , but he was good at trading assets. Even the Carter trade. He was forced to make it, but recovered after that disaster pretty nicely.
Have you ever seen JK and JC together? I'm just sayin'
First of all, GM's work doesn't usually show in the first year or two. It takes time. Especially in Europe where there are no trades etc. In the first year he mainly reviewed the organisation from top to bottom and focused on Jokerit's junior program. The main team was already built when he took the job. This year is the first time when all the players are acquired by him. And Jokerit are leading the league by nine points.
Last month he was after Sami Lepistö and Mikko Kousa but they chose bigger paychecks abroad. That's life in the Finnish Elite League for you. And Jokerit has league's top5 goalie in net who is 3rd in GAA this year.
We'll see. He's only been a GM in Europe. There are no trades in Europe. So time will tell. I'm sure JD plays a huge part in trades, at least the first couple of years.
Please.
Last edited:
Double-Shift Lasse
Just post better
Can we make it Live and Eddie K instead?
Wow. Of all the things that are way down my list of things this move makes me wonder/care about...
I've said multiple times this thread I'm glad Howson is gone, I'm happy with the hire. So I never said we were better off with him.
What I'm saying is, the Blues are not an "elite" team now or when he was there. They had one great Hitch season. Other than that, they've been mediocre for a long time.
There are plenty of organizations, Bruins, Sharks, Canucks, Flyers, Preds, whoever - that are consistently playoff bound and consistently draft well. The Blues I do not believe have reached that category and fans here, and JD himself, are touting JD and Jarmo as these guys who have built a championship contender and will now do so again. (leaving out the whole, Doug Armstrong being a GM thing)
Also, your idea that superstars are only drafted in the top 10 is wrong. Plenty of studs go in the late first round and have gone in the late first round the last 10 years (Claude Giroux, Corey Perry, Shea Weber, Jordan Eberle, etc)
I don't think Howson drafted a "bust" in Ryan Murray, or Ryan Johansen, or John Moore, although that is obviously still possible.
If the Blues make solid playoff runs this year and next I'll be wrong but I don't see that happening.
Blues fans perspective on this is...
Guys like Oshie, Perron and Backes were selected 24th, 26th and 62nd in the draft. Damn his incompetence for building a very solid team with late first round picks!
There seems to be this idea that the Blues sucked for years and benefitted from great draft situations. We had 3 top 10 picks, first overall in a year where the consensus #1 never materialised into the player people expected, the fourth overall where we got one of the best defensemen in the NHL and we traded down with our 9th overall. The Blues team was built on solid drafting in the mid/late first round and later. Unfortunately we were never in a position to draft a locked superstar forward, until maybe Tarasenko.
I can sit here and point out "mistakes" that he made at the draft, but only a total idiot would expect a scout to have a 100% record on picking who the best player will be in 5 years time. It is all about having more wins than losses on how the players develop, and Jarmo is one of the best, if not the best in that category. You guys have a winner here, and you deserve it.
You're talking to the guy who recently stated that Tyutin is "officially the worst player in the NHL". Give him a break, he heard Zherdev.
Also I've been following Tarasenko closely for the last 2 years. He's not a locked superstar forward. I warned the Blues fans about his inconsistency and character issues right after his tremendously hot start and looks like he's coming down to earth - 0 points and minus 7 over the last 4 games. We had Zherdev and Filatov (and someone even heard Zherdev), we went through the all "sure superstar" talks. Tarasenko has issues - he hasn't scored a single goal in 15 games for team Russia at the Euro Hockey Tour for a reason. I would say he might become a superstar, but I won't bet my house on it.
Timeless Winter
SaveD the Crew
Never felt so alive.
Did anyone really trust Howson to pick 3 times in the 1st round??
(if you say yes, something is wrong with you)
Did anyone really trust Howson to pick 3 times in the 1st round??
(if you say yes, something is wrong with you)
Henkka
Registered User
http://video.blues.nhl.com/videocenter/console?id=4611
I don't know has this link already been in here, I didn't read through the whole topic...
But it's really great video about Blues preparement for 2007 draft and Davidson & Kekäläinen is in big picture there. That document makes Jarmo little bit more familiar for you guys who don't know anything about him.
Just great to watch.
I don't know has this link already been in here, I didn't read through the whole topic...
But it's really great video about Blues preparement for 2007 draft and Davidson & Kekäläinen is in big picture there. That document makes Jarmo little bit more familiar for you guys who don't know anything about him.
Just great to watch.
Blues fans perspective on this is...
Guys like Oshie, Perron and Backes were selected 24th, 26th and 62nd in the draft. Damn his incompetence for building a very solid team with late first round picks!
There seems to be this idea that the Blues sucked for years and benefitted from great draft situations. We had 3 top 10 picks, first overall in a year where the consensus #1 never materialised into the player people expected, the fourth overall where we got one of the best defensemen in the NHL and we traded down with our 9th overall. The Blues team was built on solid drafting in the mid/late first round and later. Unfortunately we were never in a position to draft a locked superstar forward, until maybe Tarasenko.
I can sit here and point out "mistakes" that he made at the draft, but only a total idiot would expect a scout to have a 100% record on picking who the best player will be in 5 years time. It is all about having more wins than losses on how the players develop, and Jarmo is one of the best, if not the best in that category. You guys have a winner here, and you deserve it.
No one said he was incompetent. but no, you aren't winning Stanley Cups or making it to the conference finals with TJ Oshie and David Backes as your best players. TJ Oshie isn't that good.
Based on looking at all his picks, there has been one stud (Petro) and some solid guys. That's great, happy to have that. Outside of one great Hitch anomaly season, it hasn't resulted in much for the Blues. Who look abysmal right now.
I just think it's a complete joke, that a guy who has never been considered for an NHL GM job, or had his name even mentioned for one, or been interviewed for other jobs, wasn't even in the league, and didn't have a visa to even work in North America, is somehow now discussed in the media and on these boards as the guy mainly responsible for every good Ottawa Senators draft pick and every single good Blues pick.
If that was the case, why was he out of the league? Every NHL team is just racist against Fins? Please.
Timeless Winter
SaveD the Crew
Just stop while you're ahead. That's one of the dumbest posts I've ever read. Sorry man.
Tyutin is awful and his contract is an abomination.
If JD and Jarmo know what they are doing than he will be one of the players moved this year, along with Brass and RJ.
Let's just hope JD doesn't trade Nikitin for Kris Russel again...or was that Doug Armstrong's move? JD only gets credit for good stuff right?
Jaxs
Registered User
- Jul 4, 2008
- 9,927
- 685
The Blues roster is not very good. I don't see why that's dumb.
Reaves, Nichol, Sobotka, Langenbrunner, D'Agostini, Kris Russel? all pretty worthless but that's fine, that's the 4th liners.
Petro and Shattenkirk are two stud d-men, but their other D are pretty weak (Polak, Cole, Jackman, Redden)
Too early to judge Tarasenko, or Schwartz, but then you are talking about a top six of Andy McDonald, David Backes, TJ Oshie, Alex Steen, Patrick Berglund and David Perron. 10 years of building for that? Sorry for not being impressed.
The most impressive thing about the Blues to me is Armstrong's willingness to make deals and ship out young guys regardless of draft stock if he likes the return (Johnson for Shattenkirk and Stewart, Lars Eller for Halak)
Also, I don't think it's dumb to question, since this is being widely hailed as a great hire, and he is now being given credit for every good Blues player and Senators player, why no other team in the NHL ever considered him and he's never been up for a GM job before.
Anything is better than Howson but I think that's a fair thing to ask
I agree, I was excited as anyone that filly would develop into an NHL star. Can't hold Howson accountable for that one. However he still has a closet full of clunkers he did bring in and a list of guys he let get away.
Xoggz22
Registered User
All of this nitpicking about Davidson's record or Jarmo's record really misses the big picture. The big picture is that JD's move makes it clear that the Jackets franchise is now going to be run by hockey professionals like a hockey franchise is supposed to be run, not as a casual hobby of the McConnell family and their friends (that refers to you, Mike Priest). THAT is the big story. The rest of the Central Division is now on notice that they will be dealing with professionals in Columbus, not amateurs dabbling in fantasy hockey.
Will JD and Jarmo make mistakes? Of course they will. They are human. Every draft pick will not work out exactly as planned. But with two hockey pros analyzing things, the likelihood of mistakes will be reduced. (A Scott Arneil will never again be hired here). Plus when mistakes are made, two experienced hockey guys working together will be able to recognize them more quickly and move to correct them in a timely manner.
Professional hockey has finally come to Columbus. The Amateur Hour has been cancelled and there will be no further episodes next year. It is all UP from here.
Will JD and Jarmo make mistakes? Of course they will. They are human. Every draft pick will not work out exactly as planned. But with two hockey pros analyzing things, the likelihood of mistakes will be reduced. (A Scott Arneil will never again be hired here). Plus when mistakes are made, two experienced hockey guys working together will be able to recognize them more quickly and move to correct them in a timely manner.
Professional hockey has finally come to Columbus. The Amateur Hour has been cancelled and there will be no further episodes next year. It is all UP from here.
Great move imo, I'm anxious to see what Jarmo can bring to your organisation. He's probably the most knowledgeable and respected hockey person in Finland and has done great job with Jokerit (in addition to his drafting acumen).
I'm tempted to jump on your bandwagon simply because of him but I'll stick to my Wild for now at least
I'm tempted to jump on your bandwagon simply because of him but I'll stick to my Wild for now at least
ca5150
Registered User
No I haven't seen any Finnish National games, that's why I said "hope" he likes hard nosed players, nobody on here knew much about the guy...
ca5150
Registered User
I bet you are one of the people that shield your eyes and imagine a shaking your head emoticon in your head every time there is a fight too!
- Status
