There have been reports issued by a bevy of "NHL insiders" that Don Waddell is the preeminent candidate to become the Blue Jackets ' next general manager and/or president of hockey operations. After a weekend of canvassing league and local sources, here is an educated guess at what will unfold this week:
Waddell is the choice of president of hockey operations John Davidson and team president Mike Priest. The contract isn't 100% settled. If all goes according to plan, it'll be done after the long holiday weekend and Waddell will be announced subsequently, most likely on Wednesday.
Waddell will have an executive title.
It's likely that Davidson will relinquish his president's role but remain with the Jackets. There are a lot of "senior advisors" in NHL front offices, and something like that might fit Davidson, who has often said he's not yet ready to retire. His fondness for the team and city is deep. He wants to help steer Columbus onto a launching pad and watch the Jackets take off before he hangs up his blue blazer. He has two years remaining on his contract.
Waddell will have the option to hire another GM. It has been speculated that Rick Nash , former Jackets star and current assistant GM, is being groomed for it. Waddell can do what he wants here ― keep the GM title for as long as he wishes, promote from within or reach outside of Columbus.
Waddell will also have the option of replacing coach Pascal Vincent , who stepped in after the Mike Babcock fiasco in September. Vincent has one more year remaining on his contract.
Waddell served as president and GM of the Carolina Hurricanes in his previous posting. H e stepped down last week , ahead of the expiration of his contract and a day after multiple reports say he interviewed with the Jackets.
Sources have described Waddell as an astute businessman. In Carolina, he worked with local officials to craft a lease extension at PNC Arena and put in motion a plan to renovate the building and the surrounding area.
Is it possible Waddell also assumes some of the business duties that are currently under Priest's umbrella? That is probably a question for another day. Right now, the focus is squarely on hockey.
The Jackets hold the No. 4 pick in the draft, which is June 28-29 and will mark the start of a particularly busy summer for Columbus. The Jackets have six pending restricted free agents, a glut of young forwards and overpaid veterans on the back end. Decisions need to be made to shape a roster that can sustain success. There's a ton of young talent. It needs to be defined and developed and fit into a bigger plan. It's both a short and a long game.
The previous GM, Jarmo Kekalainen, was fired Feb. 15 after 11 years on the job. Because he left a well-stocked cupboard behind, and because GM jobs are at a premium, the Jackets' vacancy attracted attention. Among the up-and-comers who were believed to be interviewed, either remotely or in person, were New York Rangers assistant GM Ryan Martin and New Jersey Devils assistant GM Dan MacKinnon. Among the veterans whom sources say were interested were former Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin and current Edmonton Oilers president/GM Ken Holland.
As recently as Sunday, there was even speculation in Toronto that Holland and his son, Brad, might be coming to Columbus in a package to work in concert with Waddell.
This week will bring clarity, or at least an end, to a 14-week search for the new Blue Jackets boss.
Fans who flocked to Nationwide Arena to watch a last-place club obviously believe, as does Jackets management, that this young team has the stuff of long-term viability if handled well. Management, in the form of Davidson and Priest, placed an emphasis on experience in their search for the next GM. Apparently, Davidson is even willing to give up his job title as a means of recruitment.
Waddell, who will turn 66 in August, is a Detroit native. He began his front-office career as an assistant to Holland in 1997-98 during Holland's tenure as GM of the Red Wings. Waddell was GM of the Atlanta Thrashers from their inception in 1998 through 2010, when he was kicked upstairs to president. He did not move with the team when it relocated to Winnipeg in 2011.
Waddell joined the Hurricanes as an executive of the team's parent company in 2014 and served as president/GM from 2018 until last week. On a tight budget and without a plethora of resources, he drafted well and built teams that won at least one playoff round every year. His teams were well-coached, consistently solid and winners of three divisional titles. They were also devoid of superstars.
Waddell is experienced. Time will tell if he is the right person for the job, but his track record indicates he might just fill the bill. A new chapter in franchise history begins with a fascinating summer filled with path-defining decisions.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets zero in on Don Waddell as next general manager
