[News] CBJ Fire GM Scott Howson

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by moon

He was infinitely worse than MacLean. I am always surprised by the crap that MacLean gets on here, although I guess he isn't in love with the Flames so people get bitter about that. MacLean's problem was that he never built a team bad enough to get the top picks. When you look back on his picks they weren't bad at the time and rarely was there a better player taken all that close to the guy he chose.

The fact he drafted Nash alone makes him a better GM than Howson.

MacLean is the reason the franchise was in such a big hole to begin with. Howson didn't do a great job but like Jay Feaster he was saddled with a mess to begin with and when you are in the hole the Jackets were left in from MacLean you really need some slam dunk drafts and trades to get back on track. Clearly this didn't happen under Howson but the team had a better overall record under him compared to MacLean.

MacLean is one of the worst GM's in the history of the NHL. I have nothing against the guy other than he ruined an expansion franchise in what was a promising market. The fact that he's never even got a sniff with another team since being fired is telling as he will never again work in the NHL.

[neo45]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Kopitar was playing junior hockey in Sweeden in his draft year. You do have to wonder if he was a Sweedish born player would he have gone higher?

The Canucks love their Swedes so I bet they would have snagged him at #10. Thank god...

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by moon

Nash wasn't the clear number one that year and Maclean traded up to get the first pick so he could get the guy he wanted. The Panthers made the deal because they wanted Bouwmeester anyways and he gave up nothing to make the deal. Seems like that deserves at least a little praise.

And just to expand, the reason Columbus traded up was because they were worried that Atlanta would trade the #2 pick (to somebody who wanted Nash), not because they were worried Florida or Atlanta would pick him.

It was actually Florida who gave Atlanta a 3rd and 4th Round Pick not to trade the #2 or take Bouwmeester. I guess they figured giving up a 3rd and 4th was worth the chance to swap 1st Rounders.

[Henry Fool]

Originally Posted by jschick88

Aaron Portzline Beat writer for the Blue Jackets:

Process of elimination keeps directing me to Jarmo Kakalainen, but can't confirm it yet. #CBJ very close with somebody at this hour.

https://twitter.com/Aportzline

Kekäläinen has been the GM of Jokerit in Finland, and they've called a press conference today.

[WCW Nitro]

Originally Posted by moon

He was infinitely worse than MacLean. I am always surprised by the crap that MacLean gets on here, although I guess he isn't in love with the Flames so people get bitter about that. MacLean's problem was that he never built a team bad enough to get the top picks. When you look back on his picks they weren't bad at the time and rarely was there a better player taken all that close to the guy he chose.

The fact he drafted Nash alone makes him a better GM than Howson.

Agreed, he could've used some top 3 picks. The funny thing about Columbus is that I don't think any of their non-1st round picks have ever made any meaningful impact. I can't think of a home-grown player that has made a significant contribution outside of Nash. You'd think one of their 2nd,3rd,4th,etc rd picks would have made it after all these years.

[Tsawwassen]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

How funny would it be if they hired Doug MacLean?

That would be hilarious. I guess they could hire Dave King or Craig Button.

[vilzeh]

Jarmo Kekäläinen.

Jokerit & Blue Jackets have the press conference planned on the same time. Can't be a coincidence

[icarus]

If Kekalainen, then good move. He has a great eye for talent which will serve CBJ well with three first rounders as well as later in the draft, he's well respected around the NHL, and as a European as well as a breath of fresh air to the stale recycle bin of NHL management he has a better shot of attracting free agents to a toxic NHL franchise than anyone else.

[Enoch Root]

I think the bottom line with Kekalainen is that he and Davidson would be on the same page and would be working on the same plan.

I don't know anything about him, but I can still comfortably say that the organization is better today than yesterday, simply because Davidson is assembling a team that will all be focused on the same vision (and will actually have a vision)

[Locke]

About freakin' time.

Originally Posted by SofaProfessor

You couldn't pay me enough to be the guy that has to come in and rearrange these deck chairs...

I would. Honestly, I'm no hockey pro but I could still have probably done a better job than Howson. The bar in Columbus is not set that high.

Its like Howson was only in Edmonton long enough to get the first half of the grand plan....

1. Suck like hell
2. Draft high
3. ......
4. Stanley Cup?