The Columbus Blue Jackets Have A Critical Summer Ahead Of Them. So What's Taking Them So Long To Hire A General Manager?

Almost immediately after the season ended, the focus shifted to everything the Columbus Blue Jackets needed to accomplish this summer. From front office changes, potential coaching changes, the draft, free agency, and everything in between. But none of this can happen until they hire a General Manager.

The Blue Jackets are radio silent, at least publicly on who they want. But for fans and the media who are guessing as to who they want, you may have to look no further than what teams are still playing. 

Of the eight teams still in the playoffs only one sticks out as a team who may have who the CBJ want - Chris MacFarland. MacFarland worked for the Blue Jackets from 1999 to 2015 and then left for the Colorado Avalanche. He was promoted to GM in 2022 just after they won the Stanley Cup. But why would MacFarland ever leave a team that is currently a heavy Cup favorite for the foreseeable future to help a franchise that is rebuilding? In my opinion, I don't think there's any chance he will leave. But could this be one of the guys that the CBJ front office is gunning for? 

The other name that is always brought up is the London Knights Owner and GM Mark Hunter. There's an obvious connection here with Rick Nash, so this one seems too good to be true. The London Knights are currently in the OHL Final against the Oshawa Generals, so it makes sense that maybe the Jackets' front office is waiting for that to be done so they can talk if they haven't already. NHL Insiders have said that Hunter wants to move back into the NHL soon, but would he take over a franchise that needs serious work?

Jeff Gorton, who has a history with John Davidson, was the early favorite to take over the job that Jarmo Kekalainen vacated, but after the season those rumors were shot down. Gorton says, “I’m here, I’m happy, I love Montreal." Now, we all know that can change, but if he was taking the Columbus job, one would think he would've already taken it. 

Tampa Bay Lightning Director of Hockey Ops and Asst. GM Mathieu Darche was also talked about early on. He has a history with Columbus, albeit 20 years ago, but the fact remains he's familiar with the city. His team was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, so we can assume that if he was granted permission, he interviewed with Columbus. And if it went well, he would've been hired by now. 

The silence is deafening as they say. The longer this plays out, the harder it's going to be for the new GM to get things done. Whoever they hire is going to know what they have to do ahead of time, and these guys are professionals, so they'll be fine. But for fans and people who follow the Columbus Blue Jackets, this can't be "business as usual." They need to get this hire right, but can't take all summer to do it. The NHL Draft Lottery was checked off of the list, now they move on to the Entry Draft, and this one is going to be another important draft that they MUST get right. 

Fans are starting to get a little worried that they haven't made the hire yet, or that they haven't announced it. Back last summer rumors spread about them hiring Mike Babcock, it became the secret everyone knew about. Is that going to be the situation again this summer? Do they already know who they're going to hire, and all that needs to be done is to announce it? 

Be patient everyone, it's going to be announced sooner or later, right? 

Join Jason Newland's Columbus Blue Jacket page on Bunches, a new app that connects sports fans. Also, you can watch a new YouTube game show about the Blue Jackets, Around the Fifth Line.