Columbus fires Jarmo Kekalainen

[Hockeyfrilla]

Patrik Allvin only euro GM in the league now?

 

[squashmaple]

The Blue Jackets ownership group needs to do what some NFL teams have done.

Call the league office. Admit you have absolutely no idea what you’re doing. You don’t know how to hire a good GM. You don’t even know how to hire a good person who hires the other people. Like a president of hockey operations. You get their input and a list of people and you start from there.

And if that doesn’t work. You sell the team because you’re incompetent.

All of these things ALWAYS reflect on ownership. This organization returning to bottom feeder status - AGAIN - reflects on ownership who doesn’t know what they’re doing.

I'd like to point out that every name in your tagline--every single one--was acquired under current management and ownership. Your behavior today is genuinely baffling. Dance on the grave all you want. You don't also have to burn down the forest around it.

 

[ThisIsMyAlibi]

I'd like to point out that every name in your tagline--every single one--was acquired under current management and ownership. Your behavior today is genuinely baffling. Dance on the grave all you want. You don't also have to burn down the forest around it.

Yes. That’s when I had hope.

The chance of all those players making good on their potential? Not good at all. In large part because the development apparatus in place in this organization is objectively horrible.

 

[Figgy44]

Pretty much exactly. You could probably draw close parallels between Sutter in Calgary and Torts here as well.

I'm hoping we have a better future situation, tho, no offense. We're certainly doing really well with prospects, so, fingers crossed.

There's more than can be compared. Torts/Sutter, Babcock/Peters (off ice), Kivlenieks/Snow (off ice) etc. Both sides absolutely went through the ringer in terms of some weird tough things that other organizations don't typically have.

Your new GM will have a good basis to work on towards finish off the roster design for a long term contending team. For sure that's helpful in optimism. Conroy is still working on that foundation right now. We're probably 1-2 years behind for that foundation and I'm basically tired and just waiting for the TDL to pass so that I can get get off this major ride of uncertainty.

 

[Crede777]

The Blue Jackets ownership group needs to do what some NFL teams have done.

Call the league office. Admit you have absolutely no idea what you’re doing. You don’t know how to hire a good GM. You don’t even know how to hire a good person who hires the other people. Like a president of hockey operations. You get their input and a list of people and you start from there.

And if that doesn’t work. You sell the team because you’re incompetent.

All of these things ALWAYS reflect on ownership. This organization returning to bottom feeder status - AGAIN - reflects on ownership who doesn’t know what they’re doing.

They did that already in 2011 when the league advised them to hire Craig Patrick. Patrick was a total non-factor and ultimately they cleaned house 2 years later bringing in JD and Jarmo.

Also, there's no way that ownership sells while John McConnell Jr. is alive. And if they do, there's a decent chance the team moves to a city that would boost franchise value from being 3rd-last.

While fans rightly have concerns about Davidson's decision making, he's honestly the best hope right now. Either hope that his numerous league connections pan out or hope that he lucks into a good GM.

 

[ThisIsMyAlibi]

They did that already in 2011 when the league advised them to hire Craig Patrick. Patrick was a total non-factor and ultimately they cleaned house 2 years later bringing in JD and Jarmo.

Also, there's no way that ownership sells. And if they do, there's a decent chance the team moves to a city that would boost franchise value from being 3rd-last.

Point proven exactly.

This organization won’t ever win until ownership improves. It’s the one consistent reality in pro sports. Overcoming bad ownership is basically impossible unless you luck into a Peyton Manning or a Lebron James. And even so, that isn’t a guarantee.

 

[Ted Hoffman]

The Blue Jackets ownership group needs to do what some NFL teams have done.

Call the league office. Admit you have absolutely no idea what you’re doing. You don’t know how to hire a good GM. You don’t even know how to hire a good person who hires the other people. Like a president of hockey operations. You get their input and a list of people and you start from there.

Great idea, but (1) I don't know how often this really happens vs. the idea that it happens, and (2) it's not the league's job.

And if that doesn’t work. You sell the team because you’re incompetent.

All of these things ALWAYS reflect on ownership. This organization returning to bottom feeder status - AGAIN - reflects on ownership who doesn’t know what they’re doing.

Yeah, owners always sell the team when they think - or realize - they're incompetent. They especially sell when others tell them they're incompetent and outline all the reasons why.

Sincerely,

Dan Snyder, Jerry Jones, Terry Pegula, Peter Angelos and a whole shitload of other owners who demonstrated (or continue to demonstrate) they're incompetent.

 

[Moose Head]

Love him to come to Montreal and become Asst Gm in charge of Amateur scouting.

 

[ThisIsMyAlibi]

Great idea, but (1) I don't know how often this really happens vs. the idea that it happens, and (2) it's not the league's job.


Yeah, owners always sell the team when they think - or realize - they're incompetent. They especially sell when others tell them they're incompetent and outline all the reasons why.

Sincerely,

Dan Snyder, Jerry Jones, Terry Pegula, Peter Angelos and a whole shitload of other owners who demonstrated (or continue to demonstrate) they're incompetent.

It’s why I refuse to give them $ and only watch games via Russian basket weaving streams. Because they’re going nowhere fast. The only thing to look forward to as a blue jackets fan is the draft. And hoping they don’t botch it (again).

 

[abo9]

I always appreciated that he went for it in a big way back in '19. Obviously didn't work in the long run, but it was gutsy and the league could use more of that.

Agreed. I think he's a better GM than people will credit him for. He tried really hard to bring some success to the Jackets, and didnt they do the best in franchise history under him and Torts? Just kinda sucks that most players dont seem to want to play there.

I hope he gets another chance at itm curious to see how differently he would manage a team like say, Toronto, who has money, assets, etc.

Ultimately though, he was probably feeling the pressure, and with the Jackets having a bunch of young players, you need someone with a bit of a horizon to direct the ship

 

[Viqsi]

It’s why I refuse to give them $ and only watch games via Russian basket weaving streams. Because they’re going nowhere fast. The only thing to look forward to as a blue jackets fan is the draft. And hoping they don’t botch it (again).

And yet you keep coming here.

 

[ThisIsMyAlibi]

And yet you keep coming here.

Gotta do something to pass the work day

 

[Zirakzigil]

Not surprised. Timing seems really weird though. Why now? Its less than a month before the trade deadline. If you were doing it now, why not during the break?

 

[Chainshot]

Lots of how Jarmo is being described seems to mirror Treliving in Calgary too. A lot of really good, a bunch of bad, awful pro-scouting for UFA. Gutsy moves that succeeded, gutsy moves that backfired. Regardless of GM performance, was always a good ambassador for the city he was GMing for.

Both seemed to walk into tough situations and outperformed initial expectations. But that approach might have doomed the org long term. In the same way 14-15 revived fanbase interest in the Flames, I bet 18-19 revived interest in the CBJ fanbase. No idea on how to turn that retool into long term contention (both guys) caused it to end up like both guys had lost the plot. This made it so that it made more sense to part ways (mutual or not) than keep going.

Wishing CBJ fans the best going forward.

Also sounds a bit like Botterill's time in Buffalo - nibbling around the edges, some atrocious coaching hires, etc....

Oddly, I could see CBus interviewing Botterill for a replacement but he's more of the same.

 

[Viqsi]

Not surprised. Timing seems really weird though. Why now? Its less than a month before the trade deadline. If you were doing it now, why not during the break?

When asked about that in the press conference, JD pointed out that he'd been out due to back surgery.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Should have been fired long ago

 

[Ted Hoffman]

It’s why I refuse to give them $ and only watch games via Russian basket weaving streams. Because they’re going nowhere fast. The only thing to look forward to as a blue jackets fan is the draft. And hoping they don’t botch it (again).

OK.

I mean, if the next hire for GM has his shit together and the Blue Jackets rise from the ashes toward the top of the league, did ownership suddenly become competent and you're going to start shelling out $ again? Or does that become a "exception proves the rule" thing, and you're so hell-bent against current ownership that you're not doing a goddamn thing until ownership sells and it's not getting credit for anything good that happens going forward? Because the perceived "competency" or lack thereof for people in any position has a hell of a lot to do with the overall success of the organization, kind of like how in 2018 and 2019, Kekalainen looked pretty f***ing competent and the problem was he had Pittsburgh and Washington in his division to get through without a Crosby or Ovechkin on his roster and 5 years later, he looks like a goddamn imbecile to people.

 

[abo9]

I know a lot has happened since then, but I think you might be seeing why many GMs don't go for it like that... If it doesn't work, and in hindsight it almost certainly was not going to, the team could be crippled for future seasons.

Youre making it look worst than it was. Jackets didnt lose anything of significance for Duchene and Dzingel - one mid first round pick isnt enough for that.

 

[Viqsi]

OK.

I mean, if the next hire for GM has his shit together and the Blue Jackets rise from the ashes toward the top of the league, did ownership suddenly become competent and you're going to start shelling out $ again? Or does that become a "exception proves the rule" thing, and you're so hell-bent against current ownership that you're not doing a goddamn thing until ownership sells and it's not getting credit for anything good that happens going forward? Because the perceived "competency" or lack thereof for people in any position has a hell of a lot to do with the overall success of the organization, kind of like how in 2018 and 2019, Kekalainen looked pretty f***ing competent and the problem was he had Pittsburgh and Washington in his division to get through without a Crosby or Ovechkin on his roster and 5 years later, he looks like a goddamn imbecile to people.

Speaking from experience on HFCBJ... it's the bolded.

 

[Figgy44]

Also sounds a bit like Botterill's time in Buffalo - nibbling around the edges, some atrocious coaching hires, etc....

Oddly, I could see CBus interviewing Botterill for a replacement but he's more of the same.

I don't know about GM, but coaching wise, I can't help but think whether you guys might be poking around a guy like Boudreau. Someone who can lighten the room and focus on development while waiting for heavy clouds to disburse.

Huska is doing a good job for us in that regards right now. But not only do we have the TDL/Markstrom clouds to wait for, we also have the Dube/Ronni cloud as well. Bleh. CBJ will get an idea what their future looks like first. I do hope you guys end up in a new positive direction vs more same, same, but different, but still same.

 

[Ted Hoffman]

Speaking from experience on HFCBJ... it's the bolded.

And that would be unfortunate, and I would hope the team getting out of the basement would change minds.

I mean, it could definitely be worse. You guys could have owners who try to run the team on the ultra-cheap like has happened (still happens) with some pro sports teams. Or, you could have someone like Bill Laurie in 2005 when he decided to burn the Blues to the ground.

 

[Bourne Endeavor]

Finally. No idea how he lasted this long but about damn time.

 

[Chainshot]

I don't know about GM, but coaching wise, I can't help but think whether you guys might be poking around a guy like Boudreau. Someone who can lighten the room and focus on development while waiting for heavy clouds to disburse.

Huska is doing a good job for us in that regards right now. But not only do we have the TDL/Markstrom clouds to wait for, we also have the Dube/Ronni cloud as well. Bleh. CBJ will get an idea what their future looks like first. I do hope you guys end up in a new positive direction vs more same, same, but different, but still same.

It would be great if the Jackets could win the lottery to land Celebrini and finally have a 1C competitive with many of the 1C's in the East. They've got some nice pieces - the Russian line would get slobbered over in a bigger media market (read: Canada) and the kids look like they are close. Not a Jackets fan, just an observer, feel like JD may be saving his own ass for now in all of this but getting a ping pong ball win and hiring a good coach could go far.

 

[Figgy44]

It would be great if the Jackets could win the lottery to land Celebrini and finally have a 1C competitive with many of the 1C's in the East. They've got some nice pieces - the Russian line would get slobbered over in a bigger media market (read: Canada) and the kids look like they are close. Not a Jackets fan, just an observer, feel like JD may be saving his own ass for now in all of this but getting a ping pong ball win and hiring a good coach could go far.

Hey, HEY! We want Celebrini too!

You have Johnson, Sillinger and Fantilli in the pipeline for C. We have a long shot on Honzek (more likely wing) and Zary.

But if Celebrini guarantees unwavering success as a contenting team, OK fine. But don't dip back into the pool again while we try and win.

Dammit, we need to trade for Hall to try and get 1OA.

 

[EdmFlyersfan]

I remember when he was highly regarded on HFBoards...the man's tenure sucked.