Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Blue Jackets' next GM (update)
By Doug McIntyre
UPDATE: The Columbus Blue Jackets made the the hiring of new GM Jarmo Kekalainen official at a news conference Wednesday morning.
"Change was necessary," president of hockey operations John Davidson said after the announcement, according to Jackets beat writer Aaron Portzline. "The [decision] comes from the gut. Jarmo is a driven man. He's going to help us."
But when? There's no immediate timetable for the Finn's arrival into Columbus as immigration issues still need to be sorted through, Portzline reports.
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Just hours after Columbus fired general manager Scott Howson, the club could be ready to name his replacement.
That's the word from Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch, who writes that an announcement regarding the identity of the Jackets' next GM could come as soon as this morning.
"Davidson will meet with the media at 9:30 a.m. [ET] in Nationwide Arena, and it’s possible he’ll name the new general manager," according to Portzline, who adds that Finland native and former St. Louis Blues scouting director Jarmo Kekalainen, apparently a leading candidate for the job, "will get strong consideration from Davidson."
Stay tuned.
