News Article: The Return of John Davidson (Dispatch confirms JD returning as President)

[EDM]

Ok, now that Davidson has been surprisingly fired in New York, one of the mildly spicy rumors on the Athletic is speculation about his return to Columbus. Anyone think this is likely? I say no. Athletic quotes Mike Priest as saying it is up to Jarmo to decide what changes could or should be made in hockey operations. And I see no way that Jarmo would decide he needs a babysitter again.

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[cslebn]

I don’t see it

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Doubtful. He’ll likely just return to broadcasting or retire. He sold his house here, and his office is now gone.

 

[NotWendell]

Doubtful. He’ll likely just return to broadcasting or retire. He sold his house here, and his office is now gone.

It's not what I want to see happen, but this is working for ESPN is probably correct.

 

[JacketsDavid]

He chose to leave.
Now I do believe we need someone there to assist Jarmo, but I would pass on JD. He helped us get to be a solid team, but I would go with some fresh faces who are hungry to win.

Now the CBJ organization loves a deal. So if the NYR have to pay him for next few seasons, I would not be shocked to see the CBJ offer him a discounted deal to assist in some way.

 

[Cyclones Rock]

He should join Brian Burke in the Geriatric Suite in Pittsburgh.

 

[DJA]

He could get paid way more as an analyst for ESPN and wouldn't have to move again.

 

[Jackets Bob]

Come on. He's come with a $1M+ a year price tag. Ownership is so cheap that they wouldn't send Rims and Jody on road trips, do you think they'll pay his price tag? I doubt it.

 

[EDM]

All power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. That is kind of a basic understanding of human nature. And I think it applies to hockey too. And that basic concept is why we need to have another strong voice in the Hockey Operations side of the franchise. We had one autocrat, Doug Maclean and we all know how that turned out. Now apparently, according to Priest, Jarmo is now the all powerful current Maclean. And how has that worked so far? What smart move has Jarmo made to stop the talent drain that began at the time JD left? There simply needs to be a second voice to bounce ideas off of. I like Arace's idea in today's Dispatch: hire Jeff Gorton as GM and kick Jarmo upstairs to be President of Hockey Operations. Unfortunately Jarmo has far too gigantic an ego to admit he could use some help. Personally I don't care if they rehire Davidson or bring Gorton, or whomever. There just needs to be a second voice in the management room.

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

Ok, now that Davidson has been surprisingly fired in New York, one of the mildly spicy rumors on the Athletic is speculation about his return to Columbus. Anyone think this is likely? I say no. Athletic quotes Mike Priest as saying it is up to Jarmo to decide what changes could or should be made in hockey operations. And I see no way that Jarmo would decide he needs a babysitter again.

This is where I see an issue. Mike Priest should be deciding if Jarmo needs a "babysitter" again. I doubt Jarmo wants him back because he would see it as a demotion but I think we need somebody.

If we flash back to the Howson years, We had a slim hockey operations staff and Howson convinced the ownership to bring in Craig Patrick, which led to JD and eventually Jarmo.

We've now gone back to a slim hockey operations staff and I don't see this as a good thing.

I'd love to see JD back here and I think he would consider it if the time and situation was right but I think the only way it happens is if a new GM comes as part of the deal too.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

All power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. That is kind of a basic understanding of human nature. And I think it applies to hockey too. And that basic concept is why we need to have another strong voice in the Hockey Operations side of the franchise. We had one autocrat, Doug Maclean and we all know how that turned out. Now apparently, according to Priest, Jarmo is now the all powerful current Maclean. And how has that worked so far? What smart move has Jarmo made to stop the talent drain that began at the time JD left? There simply needs to be a second voice to bounce ideas off of. I like Arace's idea in today's Dispatch: hire Jeff Gorton as GM and kick Jarmo upstairs to be President of Hockey Operations. Unfortunately Jarmo has far too gigantic an ego to admit he could use some help. Personally I don't care if they rehire Davidson or bring Gorton, or whomever. There just needs to be a second voice in the management room.

1) Jarmo can't do his job.
2) Let's hire someone else to do it.
3) And make Jarmo that guy's boss.

How Corporate America.

 

[EDM]

As I said, Arace's suggestion is just one way to go. The important thing is that in some way a second voice, one that is not just a Jarmo lackey, has to be added to added to the hockey operations side of the franchise.

 

[Cyclones Rock]

JD fully supported the absurd hard-nosed negotiating approach of the organization with RFAs-which has probably been its most egregious shortcoming. He may have been the initiator of the absurd Johansen negotiation strategy and was here during the Anderson fiasco.

What, I wonder, would Jarmo had done differently over the past 2 years with JD over his shoulder?

JD has an immense reputation for a guy whose playoff resume is poor. Ah, the power of television and astute media relations.

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

JD fully supported the absurd hard-nosed negotiating approach of the organization with RFAs-which has probably been it's most egregious shortcoming. He may have been the initiator of the absurd Johansen negotiation strategy and was here during the Anderson fiasco.

What, I wonder, would Jarmo had done differently over the past 2 years with JD over his shoulder?

JD has an immense reputation for a guy whose playoff resume is poor. Ah, the power of television and astute media relations.

FWIW, the Blues were trainwreck when he was President there and his playoff resume consists of being President of the CBJ.

 

[LJ7]

All power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. That is kind of a basic understanding of human nature. And I think it applies to hockey too. And that basic concept is why we need to have another strong voice in the Hockey Operations side of the franchise. We had one autocrat, Doug Maclean and we all know how that turned out. Now apparently, according to Priest, Jarmo is now the all powerful current Maclean. And how has that worked so far? What smart move has Jarmo made to stop the talent drain that began at the time JD left? There simply needs to be a second voice to bounce ideas off of. I like Arace's idea in today's Dispatch: hire Jeff Gorton as GM and kick Jarmo upstairs to be President of Hockey Operations. Unfortunately Jarmo has far too gigantic an ego to admit he could use some help. Personally I don't care if they rehire Davidson or bring Gorton, or whomever. There just needs to be a second voice in the management room.

Oh wait you're the "Jarmo Maclean" guy aren't you

 

[EDM]

Well I am glad you are all so happy with the results that Jarmo Maclean has produced over the past two years.

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

While I think Jarmo isn't nearly the level that Doug MacLean was, we are certainly nearing the organizational structure of the MacLean era when high up management leaves and aren't replaced.

We've all seen it in the corporate world where they trim management to create "efficiencies" when what really happens is that they make 1 person do 2 people's jobs for 1 person's salary and they end up not doing either job very well because they get overworked.

 

[EDM]

IBM, Ok, that is a valid way of looking at it. Makes sense too. If the guy is overworked he is not doing either job well. I can buy that.

 

[Byrral]

Not long ago most of this board was happy when Jarmo held onto Panarin and dumped a bunch of assets trying to find a way to win a cup. It was also stated that management had already made the decision to take a run at it and Jarmo just followed the plan. Now he needs someone to watch over what he has been given the direction to accomplish. Interesting.

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

Not long ago most of this board was happy when Jarmo held onto Panarin and dumped a bunch of assets trying to find a way to win a cup. It was also stated that management had already made the decision to take a run at it and Jarmo just followed the plan. Now he needs someone to watch over what he has been given the direction to accomplish. Interesting.

I personally can handle those decisions.

It is the decisions that have occurred since that bother me. We'll probably never know why but Jarmo basically sold the defensive farm to prevent an offer sheet on PLD who then in turn screwed us for reasons unknown but I bet Jarmo knows more than we do.

He then got us a center whose heart wasn't really into playing this season and retired after about 3 weeks, talked all off season about how we were going to take advantage of teams in cap trouble and never did, and constantly overhypes young prospects that just aren't able to perform to the expectations because they aren't ready to handle the jobs given to them.

 

[majormajor]

While I think Jarmo isn't nearly the level that Doug MacLean was, we are certainly nearing the organizational structure of the MacLean era when high up management leaves and aren't replaced.

We've all seen it in the corporate world where they trim management to create "efficiencies" when what really happens is that they make 1 person do 2 people's jobs for 1 person's salary and they end up not doing either job very well because they get overworked.

IBM, Ok, that is a valid way of looking at it. Makes sense too. If the guy is overworked he is not doing either job well. I can buy that.

Not valid in this case.

Jarmo was asked two years ago if he could handle the extra job duties, and how he would fit them into his schedule. He said the only thing different was that he had to go to board of governors meetings twice a year now. That's it.

I'm not sure if people get how little there is for a PoHO to do if player personnel is handled by the G.M. It's basically a $2m advisor.

 

[majormajor]

I personally can handle those decisions.

It is the decisions that have occurred since that bother me. We'll probably never know why but Jarmo basically sold the defensive farm to prevent an offer sheet on PLD who then in turn screwed us for reasons unknown but I bet Jarmo knows more than we do.

He then got us a center whose heart wasn't really into playing this season and retired after about 3 weeks, talked all off season about how we were going to take advantage of teams in cap trouble and never did, and constantly overhypes young prospects that just aren't able to perform to the expectations because they aren't ready to handle the jobs given to them.

I'm not sure if people have done the cost benefit analysis on this one. Murray and Nuti play about as much as one player combined and they were our bottom pair, with a combined salary of $7.2m. Is that one player worth that much? Not close, no. MDZ and Kukan were not a problem for us this year anyways, this is a non-issue.

Most of the stuff you're talking about is outside of any G.M.'s control. He can't control who gets covid and feels homesick and he can't go spending freely in UFA when he is forced to make a giant trade.

I don't think Jarmo has made good decisions this past season. I'm saying your particular gripes are unreasonable.

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

Not valid in this case.

Jarmo was asked two years ago if he could handle the extra job duties, and how he would fit them into his schedule. He said the only thing different was that he had to go to board of governors meetings twice a year now. That's it.

I'm not sure if people get how little there is for a PoHO to do if player personnel is handled by the G.M. It's basically a $2m advisor.

Of course the guy would say he could do it. If it was presented to him to have both positions do you think he would honestly say no?

And do you honestly think that is all the job was? That JD and any other team president just sat around 360 days a year with a thumb up their rear ends waiting to go to a meeting?

Mike Priest doesn't know his a** from a hole in the ground when it came to making hockey decisions, that is why JD was here to help oversee those and he is the one who hired Jarmo.

In the 2 years since JD has gone, the hockey side of things has started to go to sh*t and we've seen some questionable things happen. Is that all Jarmo's fault? Maybe. Maybe not. But there needs to be more actual hockey people involved in the higher end of hockey operations. And I mean more than Rick Nash being an on the job trainee. I mean people who already know what they are doing with success and experience in the league.

This team needs more hockey people in management, not bean counters.

 

[LetsGOJackets!!]

Not valid in this case.

Jarmo was asked two years ago if he could handle the extra job duties, and how he would fit them into his schedule. He said the only thing different was that he had to go to board of governors meetings twice a year now. That's it.

I'm not sure if people get how little there is for a PoHO to do if player personnel is handled by the G.M. It's basically a $2m advisor.

Interesting points by all. I'm not going to say that being the President & GM of an NHL franchise is the most taxing of jobs, but I will say some seem to do much better at it than others. Would I trade Jarmo for Sakic or Yzerman, well hell yes I would. For GM's of the Blue Jackets past? No not so much eh?

 

[majormajor]

Of course the guy would say he could do it. If it was presented to him to have both positions do you think he would honestly say no?

And do you honestly think that is all the job was? That JD and any other team president just sat around 360 days a year with a thumb up their rear ends waiting to go to a meeting?

Mike Priest doesn't know his a** from a hole in the ground when it came to making hockey decisions, that is why JD was here to help oversee those and he is the one who hired Jarmo.

In the 2 years since JD has gone, the hockey side of things has started to go to sh*t and we've seen some questionable things happen. Is that all Jarmo's fault? Maybe. Maybe not. But there needs to be more actual hockey people involved in the higher end of hockey operations. And I mean more than Rick Nash being an on the job trainee. I mean people who already know what they are doing with success and experience in the league.

This team needs more hockey people in management, not bean counters.

The main part of his job is to offer advice to Jarmo, who has full control over personnel. It's an advisory position 99% of the time.

Obviously you need good hockey people who can debate things and figure things out as a group. I don't think we on this board know enough to say if they have the right group for that. It's not like players we can watch. How much do you know about Chris Clark as a hockey mind? Probably the same amount I do.