The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed their top three executives to contract extensions, the team announced. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen, president of hockey operations John Davidson, and assistant general manager Bill Zeto have all been rewarded with multi-year contracts. Zeto has also received a title upgrade to associate general manager. Terms of the extensions have not yet been released.
#CBJ announce contract extensions for Davidson, Kekalainen, and Zito:https://t.co/Zr7fx1fpiP
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) September 6, 2018
Columbus Blue Jackets Lock Up Three Executives
When Davidson took over the president of hockey operations in 2012, he hired Kekalainen to take over for then-general manager Scott Howson. Since then, the Blue Jackets are 238-178-42. The Blue Jackets have made the Stanley Cup Playoffs three times in that time span. That includes the team’s first back to back appearances in club history.
The Blue Jackets have drafted very well in that time frame. Players like Zach Werenski, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Alexander Wennberg, and Pierre-Luc Dubois were brought in via the Draft. Other than the draft, trades have been another thing this front office has excelled at. Players like Seth Jones and Artemi Panarin have been brought in via trade.
Bill Zito
Brought in in 2013, Zito also serves as the general manager of the AHL affiliate Cleveland Monsters. He has done a lot to bring this franchise to where it is. His management of the Monsters has brought success to Columbus. Several of the players on the current Blue Jackets roster where on the that Calder Cup winning team in 2015-16.
The extensions are well-earned. First of all, since these three men have joined the organization it has gone from a bottom feeder to a playoff contender. Second the franchise has shown no signs of slowing down. The Columbus Blue Jackets are in the right hands and seems like ownership agrees.
