In six days from June 3-9, Jarmo Kekalainen slammed the gas pedal on the Blue Jackets' rebuild.
First, he reportedly hired Mike Babcock to be the team's next head coach. Then, he bolstered the defense by trading for Ivan Provorov and acquiring Damon Severson in a sign-and-trade.
"We're fed up with the suffering," Kekalainen said on CBJ in 30 with Bob McElligott. "We want to take the next step and we want to get moving here."
The Blue Jackets haven't made the playoffs since 2020, and it's clear that Kekalainen is hell-bent on changing that this season. His actions back up his words, which is something every team's fans should want in a general manager.
Kekalainen also said the team is "not done" yet and added that they've "always talked about the center ice position," a place where the Blue Jackets have a massive hole, specifically in the No. 1 center role. They are going to address that need with the No. 3 overall pick in the NHL Draft, but that player might not be immediate help.
Regardless of what one may think of the moves, there's no denying that Kekalainen is hungry to win and is doing what he thinks is best to help the Blue Jackets not only return to the playoffs, but be a perennial contender.
The offseason is young, but it's already become clear: the Blue Jackets mean business.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) June 10, 2023
GM Jarmo Kekalainen is intent on getting his team back into the Stanley Cup playoffs. #CBJ https://t.co/Tuq0r7LwGA
Are the Blue Jackets rushing a rebuild? Maybe, but Kekalainen has two years left on his deal and has won one playoff round in 10 years at the helm. The NHL is a results-driven business, and the Blue Jackets need results.
This coaching hire was a pivotal one for GM Jarmo Kekalainen.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) June 5, 2023
He's betting on Mike Babcock, out of the NHL since 2019, to get the Blue Jackets back on track. #CBJ https://t.co/0VTMucO70r
What other moves does Kekalainen have up his sleeve?
