COLUMBUS, Ohio — Now that the regular season has ended, the search for the next Columbus Blue Jackets general manager can begin in earnest. John Davidson, the club’s director of hockey operations and the interim GM since February, has said wants somebody with vast NHL front-office experience.
But there’s another trait that is desired.
The Blue Jackets do not need a GM who fits into the organization’s culture. As painful as it is for Davidson to admit, he acknowledged in an interview with The Athletic, that the Blue Jackets would like — to borrow a tech industry word — a disruptor.
That is, a strong-willed, fearless (not reckless) individual who knows what a winning culture looks like and spares no feelings to build it.
“Our culture … it needs to be improved, absolutely,” Davidson said. “We have to improve it. That’s just what it is, that’s just me being honest.
“When you make changes at (the GM level), it should stimulate everything in the organization, from A to Z. This guy is going to come in and make up his mind on things. He’ll have a look at the entire organization. Everybody here now understands that, that we’re going to look at everything.”
Davidson, along with president of business operations Mike Priest, have spent the last six weeks sifting through the scores of names that have reached their desks as candidates to replace Jarmo Kekalainen, who was fired in mid-February.
Now, with those names whittled down to a “reasonable size,” Davidson said, the second step in the process can get started.
“We’re going to find out who’s available and who’s not, see what names are there and get going,” Davidson said. “The sooner the better, but there’s no rush.
“We know lots of people we want to talk to, but can we talk to them? We don’t know yet. We’ll have to wait and see. You have to go through the proper channels and have respect for the other organizations, and we’ll most definitely do it that way.”
Candidates who aren’t currently employed are the easiest. With no permission needed, the Blue Jackets could simply fit them on the calendar. Those interviews could start any day now.
But candidates who are currently employed by NHL clubs will almost always require permission from their current clubs to interview elsewhere, and those will almost always wait until their current employer is done playing for the season.
In other words, if the Blue Jackets are planning to speak with a candidate from a club that’s in the playoffs, they’ll need to wait until they’re eliminated. If that’s a Stanley Cup finalist, and the Jackets are willing to be that patient, it could go well into June.
This month, TSN reported that Davidson is willing to relinquish his title as president of hockey operations if it allows the Blue Jackets to hire “the right guy.”
That’s important because it makes it possible for the Blue Jackets to interview (and possibly hire) candidates who are currently GMs with clubs. In most cases, they wouldn’t be allowed to interview for a job that represents a lateral move, but clubs are less likely to stand in their way if a new job would represent career advancement.
“I’ll do whatever is necessary to get the right guy,” Davidson said. “I’ve always been that way and I will always be that way. I want to get this right. I have a deep affection for Columbus and the organization and I want to get it right.”
The Athletic: Blue Jackets Sunday Gathering
1. John Davidson, 71, “hasn’t even thought” about retirement
2. Alex Nylander’s chance with #CBJ
3. Max McCue … a hunter for big hits
4. Snacks: Adam Fantilli update, Zach Werenski’s helpers, #CBJ trivia, morehttps://t.co/Fc6TgUobaz— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) March 3, 2024
Just days after the TSN report regarding Davidson’s willingness to relinquish the title of president, Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito — who left the Blue Jackets following the 2019-20 season to become Panthers GM — added the title of president and earned a multi-year extension with Florida.
That’s one way to keep Zito off the market. But if the Blue Jackets wish to interview another of their former assistant GMs — Colorado Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland worked for Columbus from 2000-15 — they now have a carrot to dangle that could make that possible.
Same with Jeff Gorton, who is executive vice president of hockey operations with the Montreal Canadiens. He was GM of the New York Rangers from 2015-21, spending the final two seasons working under Davidson, who was the Rangers’ president.
One other name expected to generate interest is Mark Hunter, the longtime owner and general manager of the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights. Hunter was also director of player personnel and assistant general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2014-18.
There is no shortage of candidates — Davidson would only say that “scores of names” have thrown their name into the ring — but a select few will meet the requirements. Davidson and Priest want a GM who has worked in that capacity previously in the NHL or has had a front-row seat to the action.
They also want a candidate who can change the culture of the Blue Jackets organization. It’s been healthy a few times through the years, most recently when coach John Tortorella set the standards behind the bench and in the dressing room.
But it’s slipped badly in recent seasons, with several veterans moving along to other franchises and a turnstile in the coaches’ office. Pascal Vincent is the second coach in three seasons (third if you count Mike Babcock), and his future will likely be decided by the new GM.
Nothing will be spared a hard evaluation under the new GM — the coaching staff, scouting staff, training staff, you name it.
The next GM will have to hit the ground running in the dressing room, too.
The Blue Jackets are going to have another high pick in this summer’s draft after finishing with the fourth-worst record in the NHL. They’ll take a hard look at their goaltending position, where starter Elvis Merzlikins could be on his way out. They have seven prominent players who are restricted free agents as of July 1.
As Davidson said, the sooner the better.
“The most important thing is that we get the right person to lead our club,” he said. “There’s no hard date when that has to happen, but it has to happen.”
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(Photo of John Davidson: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
