Blue Jackets Fire GM Jarmo Kekalainen

The Columbus Blue Jackets have fired general manager Jarmo Kekalainen. The team noted in a statement released on Thursday, “John Davidson, along with the team’s hockey operations management team, will assume general manager’s duties while the club goes through the process of hiring a replacement.”

Kekalainen had one more season on his contract at the time he was released.

Jarmo Kekalainen has been relieved of his duties as general manager.

John Davidson, along with the team’s hockey operations management team, will assume general manager’s duties while the club goes through the process of hiring a replacement.

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— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) February 15, 2024

Davidson said:

“This is one of the hardest days I have had in my career as Jarmo is a friend, someone I have a great deal of respect for and someone who has done a lot of good things during his time here. While the future of our club is bright, our performance has not been good enough and it is time for a fresh perspective as we move forward.”

At 57, Kekalainen became the Blue Jackets’ third general manager on Feb. 13, 2013. Under his leadership, the team achieved a 410-362-97 record in 869 games, marking the longest tenure in franchise history. Columbus reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs five times (2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020) and experienced its top four seasons based on points percentage: 2016-17 (50-24-8, 108 pts., .659), 2018-19 (47-31-4, 98 pts., .598), 2017-18 (45-30-7, 97 pts., .591), and 2019-20 (33-22-15, 81 pts., .579).

All that said, the last few seasons have been little more than a disappointment.

This Is A Step Forward for the Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets boast a wealth of talented young players, making this an enticing opportunity for aspiring general managers. With a promising prospect pool and patient ownership, the role offers the time and support needed to implement a strategic plan. This has to be a positive step for the franchise who struggled mightily under Kekalainen. There seemed to be no direction with the franchise with him in charge.