The Columbus Blue Jackets terminated the contract of general manager Jarmo Kekalainen on Thursday, concluding his tenure of over a decade with the team. John Davidson, the President of Hockey Operations, made this decision during Kekalainen’s 11th full season in the role and three weeks before the trade deadline. Kekalainen, the third-longest-tenured GM in the NHL, was let go due to the team’s poor performance, currently in last place in the Eastern Conference and set to miss the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.
The hockey operations team, led by Davidson, will temporarily take on the responsibilities of the GM until a permanent replacement is hired. Davidson expressed the difficulty of the decision, acknowledging Kekalainen as a friend and someone he respects. The move follows several months after the unsuccessful hiring of coach Mike Babcock, who resigned on the eve of training camp due to his behavior with players.
The Blue Jackets’ ownership initially stated in September that there would be no front office changes, but the ongoing lack of success since the team’s last playoff appearance in 2020 raised concerns. Majority owner John P. McConnell thanked Kekalainen for his dedication over the past 11 years and wished him well in the future. Kekalainen, who took over as GM midseason almost 11 years ago, experienced success, including four consecutive playoff appearances under coach John Tortorella. However, recent coaching changes and disappointing team performance led to the decision to part ways with Kekalainen.
