The Jarmo Thread

[CBJWerenski8]

“There is a reason,” said one NHL owner, “that I’m a control freak.”

This was hours after Mike Babcock resigned as Columbus’s head coach. The McConnell family, owners of the Blue Jackets since their inception, has an excellent reputation in hockey circles. During his years at Sportsnet, Doug MacLean repeatedly said great things about working for them. That hasn’t changed, even as the leadership did.
They hired people, and allowed them to make decisions. Now, as the mushroom cloud around Columbus dissipates, it's one of the many unanswered questions: Will the McConnells change the way they oversee the Blue Jackets?

“Our ownership group is deeply frustrated and disappointed by the events of the past week,” Monday’s statement from ownership read. “We do not anticipate further changes to our hockey leadership team at this time. Additional disruptions would be detrimental to our players and coaches as they prepare for the opening of training camp in two days.”

The words “at this time,” jumped off our screens. Everyone knows what that means.

Truth is, the Blue Jackets’ front office was already on notice. That’s why they hired Babcock, gambling his hockey mind could push them into the playoff race, solidifying job security. A strong season is essential for them. Babcock’s resignation doesn’t change the need for positive results. What it might change, however, is how ownership feels about the people in charge of the organization on a personal level, and how it might need to run the team in the future.

That isn’t the only thing we’re left wondering.

GM Jarmo Kekalainen apologized to the players on Monday morning. But there are many theories about what this will mean inside the Blue Jackets’ room. We know what was said publicly, but by the time the team met with the NHLPA on Thursday, the players made it very clear there had to be change. Will that be enough to smooth over any previous comments?

I haven’t played on a professional sports team, but I have worked in highly charged workplace environments where emotional times caused cracks. There are a lot of ways it can go. Some move on quick. Others have long memories and don’t let go. You find out if you can still be a team. And, if that’s possible, group success heals a lot of wounds. A rising tide floats all boats.

Finally, I wonder about those who crave a second chance. Babcock’s situation isn’t analogous to many others, but there are plenty of players, coaches, executives, etc., who will be looking for an opportunity to right a wrong, fix a mistake, redeem themselves. Will this experience scare off people who make those hires? Scare off those who own teams? The Blue Jackets were embarrassed. No one wants to sit where Kekalainen and John Davidson did this week.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

 

[DarkandStormy]

LeBrun wrote a puff piece for Babcock a couple years ago lol

 

[Cowumbus]

I’m not even a Jarmo fan, but the Babcock hiring isn’t really that big a deal to me (as a strike against Jarmo).

Plenty of other reasons to want him gone though.

I still don’t get the purpose of having JD around. What has he ever done to deserve that job?

 

[Viqsi]

That last paragraph, more than anything else, is why my renewed hate for Babcock is unlikely to ever subside. He didn't just f*** it up for himself, or for our team - he f***ed things up for everybody ever wanting a second chance in the NHL.

 

[CalBuckeyeRob]

That last paragraph, more than anything else, is why my renewed hate for Babcock is unlikely to ever subside. He didn't just f*** it up for himself, or for our team - he f***ed things up for everybody ever wanting a second chance in the NHL.

Not sure that is a bad thing. Depending on the behavior, a second chance should be earned not just given with the expectation that someone will do better next time.

 

[ViD]

That’s gotta be it for him

 

[majormajor]

That’s gotta be it for him

You'd think it would have been it for Jarmo at many points. His last couple years has been a gongshow.

You suggested in the other thead that losing to the Coyotes in particular would be extra meaningful and I don't agree with that thinking. They have a good record.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

It honestly makes no sense to fire the GM in season. You guys want Trevor Timmons or Josh Flynn with the wheel? I don’t.

JD/ownership just needs to watch over his moves and make sure he doesn’t do any “job saving” moves like trading KJ for something.

But yeah, he’s got to go after the season. And I think he will.

 

[aRussian]

It honestly makes no sense to fire the GM in season. You guys want Trevor Timmons or Josh Flynn with the wheel? I don’t.

JD/ownership just needs to watch over his moves and make sure he doesn’t do any “job saving” moves like trading KJ for something.

But yeah, he’s got to go after the season. And I think he will.

I’d only be in favor of this if such a restriction were in place. Maybe ownership or someone to not approve certain trades and such otherwise makes no sense to allow him to further “shape” the roster

 

[majormajor]

It honestly makes no sense to fire the GM in season. You guys want Trevor Timmons or Josh Flynn with the wheel? I don’t.

JD/ownership just needs to watch over his moves and make sure he doesn’t do any “job saving” moves like trading KJ for something.

But yeah, he’s got to go after the season. And I think he will.

Interim GMs don't really have independent authority either.

If you know you're not keeping Jarmo, then let him go now.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Interim GMs don't really have independent authority either.

If you know you're not keeping Jarmo, then let him go now.

You’re asking this ownership to pay jarmo not to be GM anymore AND pay a promotion salary to someone else. Cant see that happening

 

[majormajor]

You’re asking this ownership to pay jarmo not to be GM anymore AND pay a promotion salary to someone else. Cant see that happening

You're asking Jarmo to make good decisions about things like whether to keep Sillinger up.

Can't see that happening.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

You're asking Jarmo to make good decisions about things like whether to keep Sillinger up.

Can't see that happening.

i don’t think I’m asking Jarmo to make any decisions.

 

[tunnelvision]

I'm praying he won't call up Svozil way too early.

McConnell should've been busy in the past months interviewing new GM candidates. Hopefully there are some restrictions made for Jarmo and JD that they can't be selling draft capital or do something stupid desperate shit like that anymore.

 

[Indy18]

I'm praying he won't call up Svozil way too early.

McConnell should've been busy in the past months interviewing new GM candidates. Hopefully there are some restrictions made for Jarmo and JD that they can't be selling draft capital or do something stupid desperate shit like that anymore.

At this point I am pretty sure he's handcuffed

 

[majormajor]

i don’t think I’m asking Jarmo to make any decisions.

Who is making the decision about whether Sillinger stays up?

Who just waived Bemstrom and recalled TFW?

 

[Cyclones Rock]

Thank You - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

Thank you for the amazing 9 years

www.capfriendly.com

Jarmo is the 3rd longest tenured GM in the league. What one real playoff series win in over a decade buys in Columbus!

McConnell has to be in the running for the most incompetent owner in pro sports.

Who is making the decision about whether Sillinger stays up?

Who just waived Bemstrom and recalled TFW?

It's me. But don't tell anyone.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Who is making the decision about whether Sillinger stays up?

Who just waived Bemstrom and recalled TFW?

Jarmo and Vincent. But I don’t see how any of this harms anything. Except the Sillinger thing, but that’s a ship that sailed a while ago.

 

[majormajor]

Jarmo and Vincent. But I don’t see how any of this harms anything. Except the Sillinger thing, but that’s a ship that sailed a while ago.

And it's not like the person who sailed that ship will be sailing any ships for Jiricek or KJ this year?

 

[BB88]

That’s gotta be it for him

These lossed aren’t on the Gm.

No team, not even an epic tank team should lose against all the bad teams in the league which they have. The roster is seriously underperforming.


& if they brought in a new Gm what major moves would happen?
There’s not a single Gm in the league who doesn’t see Werenski as a building block on defense, or Jiricek as a future building block. Right or wrong. No major changes would happen to the defense

Every Gm would see Fanfilli as a future building block at F, most likely Johnson as a key piece as well, Gaudreu wouldn’t go anywhere.

The players have to just step up because the way they are playing (outside of Fantilli line) is pathetic

 

[Michigan Magic]

These lossed aren’t on the Gm.

No team, not even an epic tank team should lose against all the bad teams in the league which they have. The roster is seriously underperforming.


& if they brought in a new Gm what major moves would happen?
There’s not a single Gm in the league who doesn’t see Werenski as a building block on defense, or Jiricek as a future building block. Right or wrong. No major changes would happen to the defense

Every Gm would see Fanfilli as a future building block at F, most likely Johnson as a key piece as well, Gaudreu wouldn’t go anywhere.

The players have to just step up because the way they are playing (outside of Fantilli line) is pathetic

I'll give credit to the 4th line for at least scoring goals.

 

[Indy18]

These lossed aren’t on the Gm.

No team, not even an epic tank team should lose against all the bad teams in the league which they have. The roster is seriously underperforming.


& if they brought in a new Gm what major moves would happen?
There’s not a single Gm in the league who doesn’t see Werenski as a building block on defense, or Jiricek as a future building block. Right or wrong. No major changes would happen to the defense

Every Gm would see Fanfilli as a future building block at F, most likely Johnson as a key piece as well, Gaudreu wouldn’t go anywhere.

The players have to just step up because the way they are playing (outside of Fantilli line) is pathetic

People just want their pound of flesh to feel better about themselves. No sane organization would cut their GM without a succession plan (though I do believe he's handcuffed and gone at the end of the year) but considering a vast majority of the games we lost were one goal/blown leads the talent is there but the motivation to play a full 60 isn't. This is on the players to figure out and I am gonna be honest...they probably don't care what happens to the guy who hired them or signs their checks, I mean at work I don't give a shit about that, I just care about my direct superiors, my team's performance and I couldn't imagine its like that with this team...the problem needs fixed in the room and there's something wrong in there right now at this point.

 

[majormajor]

People just want their pound of flesh to feel better about themselves. No sane organization would cut their GM without a succession plan

It's actually normal for teams to have an interim GM when a GM is axed, while they search for a replacement. Ottawa has one right now. Philly just had one, etc...

 

[Indy18]

It's actually normal for teams to have an interim GM when a GM is axed, while they search for a replacement. Ottawa has one right now. Philly just had one, etc...

I am gonna be completely honest...Flynn doesn't seem like "the guy" I rather just handcuff Jarmo and do it right in the summer. Also show's that the fan theory of Rick Nash being the successor to Jarmo isn't as correct as we expected or they would had pulled the trigger on that already.