Less than a week before walking to the dais inside Nationwide Arena's Founders Club on Wednesday, Don Waddell was still running the Carolina Hurricanes .
More: Columbus Blue Jackets president of hockey operations/GM Don Waddell: 5 things to know
Once he gained the right to speak with other teams from Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon, Waddell interviewed with the Blue Jackets , left Columbus with a new job on the horizon and began planning. Knowing he was about to accept the Jackets' offer Tuesday to become their new president of hockey operations and general manager , Waddell planned all throughout Memorial Day weekend.
He called it a "roadmap" for what's about to become a hectic few weeks for the Blue Jackets, who have a stockpile of good prospects, draft picks and NHL pieces for Waddell to learn about before the draft June 28-29 in Las Vegas. Free agency follows that with its July 1 opening day, so there's no time to waste.
"I've kind of mapped out, since I knew this was going to happen, a road map of how things have to happen," he said. "It's not (daunting). It's time. I'm going to spend a lot of time with the staff here. ... That's the fun part for me, is meeting with everybody, and if we have to make some changes in some places, we'll make those decisions and move on."
Waddell's tenure as the Blue Jackets' top hockey mind is officially going now. Nattily attired with a tie bearing his new team's colors, he spent just under an hour taking questions ranging from why he left the Carolina Hurricanes for a "lateral move" to whether he'll hire a new GM to his thoughts on beleaguered goalie Elvis Merzlikins.
It was a lot to digest for Waddell, reporters and even Blue Jackets staffers who are just as curious about which direction the team's new hockey boss will take the franchise. Here are five takeaways from an important day in Blue Jackets history:
There's no easy way to say it. Merzlikins has struggled during the first two years of a five-year contract that carries a $5.4 million annual charge against the NHL's salary cap. Depending on his performance going forward, that's a flexible number that can either become a bargain or anchor.
Asked about Merzlikins, Waddell couldn't hold back an initial attempt at humor.
"Who's Elvis?" he said.
The reality is that Waddell knows exactly who 'Elvis' is in Columbus and just how important Merzlikins' contract situation is to the Blue Jackets' cap calculations.
They have three options.
One is to seek a trade partner, which seems unlikely without the Blue Jackets eating a huge chunk of his remaining contract, which has $16.2 million left. Another is to buy out that amount, which according to Cap Friendly would save a total of $5.25 million in salary. It would also add three more years to the Jackets' obligation at $1.75 million in the final three years ― lasting through 2029-30.
The third option appears to be the one Waddell sounds most interested in exploring. That's just riding the wave with Merzlikins, again, while continuing to offer him assistance in getting back to peak form.
"When you've got a ($5.4 million cap hit) or whatever his salary is for the next three years, we've got to put the best foot forward to try and make it work," Waddell said. "It may not work, but we've got to do everything in our power. When I put my head on the pillow at night, I've got to be able to say, 'We did everything we can, it's just not going to work.' ... he can play goal. I've watched him enough over the years. So, we've just got to get him back to that point."
Waddell also dropped an interesting tidbit about Merzlikins, saying he tried to acquire him four years ago. Former Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen wouldn't go for it. Waddell joked that Hurricanes star Sebastian Aho was part of the offer.
"We never got to that point," Waddell said. "They pretty much weren't going to trade him, which I could understand because he was young and up-and-coming ... and we obviously know what's happened."
That's a reference to the tragic death of Blue Jackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks on July 4, 2021, at the home of former goaltending coach Manny Legace. Merzlikins, who was traumatized from witnessing the incident, hasn't been the same since.
The key question now is whether the Blue Jackets can help Merzlikins return to peak form?
"I haven't talked to the goalie coach or anything like that, but when I look at what I know of the player ... obviously, I know what happened here, with all the issues, which is mind-boggling, but this guy has a lot of talent," Waddell said. "It hasn't gone well for him the last couple years, but did he completely just fall off the face of the earth and forget how to play goal?"
The Jackets' new hockey boss doesn't seem to think that's the case.
Waddell made it clear he's not looking for a GM to share the workload with this summer or, potentially, for the next few years. He's the guy for Columbus now in roles previously held by John Davidson (president of hockey ops) and Jarmo Kekalainen (GM).
"I've got so much passion for what I do and what I think is possible here," Waddell said. "You're right, I could ride off into the sunset (in retirement), but I'm not even close to that. I've got lots of energy, and ... I would never come to this potential opportunity if I didn't think there was going to be a great outcome."
Following the press conference, Waddell met with a huddle of reporters and was pressed again about the potential of hiring a GM. He said it's a possibility at some point, but it won't happen this summer and there's no set timeframe.
"There's so much to get done," Waddell said. "If I put that out there, it would slow everything else down, and I don't think we have the time to waste with that. So, I'm just going to play it by ear and that's why I'm not going to put a timetable on it. It might be next year. It could be three years. It could be five years ... but I have that option."
Right now, the buck stops with him ... and only him.
"This is a great transition for (Davidson to senior advisor)," Blue Jackets president Mike Priest said. "Don will be able to lean on him wherever he needs to, but Don is the guy. He takes it from this point forward, and 'JD' understands and has provided his support to be there in whatever capacity we need him to be. He's a Blue Jacket. I can't say enough good things about what he's done for us, and he's represented us very well, and will continue to be a part of our organization as someone that Don can use going forward."
The Blue Jackets the past few years have been one of the NHL's youngest teams, which doesn't typically lead to a lot of success. That's why Waddell is expected to add more established veterans this summer, so long as they're deemed good fits.
A winning pedigree is required.
"I'm a big believer in surrounding yourself with people who've won, because once you've won there's no second place," Waddell said. "But you have to fit the roster and help the roster. ... if there's a few guys out there that we feel could contribute on the ice and help us with some of the young players off the ice, it's automatic to make those moves."
The question now is what it might take to get those moves done and how eager Waddell will be to jettison a few deck chairs for more experience?
Other than stressing his belief that Columbus isn't far away from competing in the Metropolitan Division, Waddell reiterated that he plans to spend a few weeks getting familiar with his new franchise.
That means he's not planning to make any decisions on staff, retentions or changes, until he's more comfortable making those calls. Prior to the press conference, Waddell met with coach Pascal Vincent for "three minutes," and plans to spend ample time with him over the next couple weeks.
Vincent has one year left on a contract signed days before training camp last September, after former coach Mike Babcock resigned amid controversy over allegations of privacy violations during summer player/coach meetings. The Blue Jackets struggled out of the gate and quickly fell out of playoff contention, but Vincent and his staff began to make headway developing an "identity" before a rash of injuries sabotaged the final six weeks.
Waddell may ultimately decide to find a more experienced coaching staff, but it won't happen before he takes enough time to learn about the guys currently in place.
"I know we have the draft, I know we have free agency ... those are tight timelines," Waddell said. "In the next few weeks, I definitely want to spend a lot of time with Pascal, as much as I can. (There's) no timetable on any decisions with anybody on our staff. You don't walk into a new place, where people have been here, and make changes without having a reason to change. So, until we do that, I'm not going to lay a timetable on it."
Davidson began the press conference by delivering comments about Waddell's arrival, why he was picked and what spending 10 of the past 12 years as the Jackets' president of hockey operations has meant to him personally.
Davidson left after the 2018-19 season to take the same position with the New York Rangers , whom he played for as a goalie and rose to prominence with as a television broadcaster. Otherwise, he's called Columbus home for a decade and has sung its praises.
"I have great passion for this organization, for this city, and for the best fans in the world," Davidson said. "It has been my honor to serve as president of hockey operations for this club for the better part of the last 12 years."
After saying that, akin to a Royal knighting ritual minus the sword, Davidson officially handed things off to his successor.
"While I will continue to be a Blue Jacket," Davidson said, "it is my privilege to pass that baton on to Don. And on behalf of our ownership group led by John P. McConnell and our president Mike Priest, to welcome him, his wife, Cheryl and their family to Columbus and the Blue Jackets family. Welcome, Don, it's yours."
Away we go.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Don Waddell joins Blue Jackets as head of hockey ops/GM: 5 takeaways
