🗣️ Blue Jackets fire General Manager
Bedard returns from injury, Parise to retire, and more!
Slapshot News
February 16, 2024
In today’s edition:
🗣️ Blue Jackets fire General Manager
🤕 Connor Bedard returns from injury
⏳ Zach Parise to retire at end of season
✍️ Minnesota signs Mason Shaw until end of year
and more!
Blue Jackets GM fired
The Columbus Blue Jackets fired their general manager, Jarmo Kekalainen earlier today. Kekalainen was hired in February 2013 and became the longest tenured General Manager in club history. Davidson and his team will assume general manager duties while the club goes through the process of hiring a replacement.
The Blue Jackets are currently last in the Eastern Conference with a losing record of 16-26-10. John Davidson, President of Hockey Operations for the Blue Jackets made the announcement earlier today and specifically highlighted the team’s performance.
“Unfortunately, as a team, our results haven't been good enough. We all, starting with myself as head of hockey operations, share responsibility for that. It became apparent a new voice was needed to lead us forward as we turn the page. This decision was difficult because of the quality of person that Jarmo is. He's a dedicated, loyal, hardworking guy who did a lot of great things, both on and off the ice, in our community over the past decade.”
Parise confirms it’s his last season
Zach Parise joined the Colorado Avalanche halfway through the year after being without a team. After signing with them for the duration of the season a few weeks ago, he has now confirmed it will be his last. "Yeah, this is it," he said in an interview with NHL.com's Tom Gulitti "This is it." He credits even returning this year to his wife who encouraged him to give it a thought. Before playing for the Avalanche he played for the Islanders, Wild, and the Devils racking up nearly 900 points in over 1,200 NHL games.
Bedard returns from injuryChicago’s Connor Bedard returned after missing 14 games after breaking his jaw. He was not widely anticipated to return until next week. In his first game back he was credited with an assist. | Ullmark fined $5,000 for high-stickingBoston’s Linus Ullmark was fined $5,000 - the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement - for high-sticking Tampa Bay’s Michael Eyssimont |
In other news…
✍️ Minnesota Wild signs Forward Mason Shaw to a 2-way $775k contract for the remainder of the 2023-24 season
🧱Thatcher Demko stopped 27 of 28 shots and became the first goaltender to reach the 30-win mark this season
🐱 Anthony Stolarz recorded his seventh career shutout and helped the Panthers extend their franchise-setting road winning streak to 10 games
🐧 Sidney Crosby scored twice to record his 12th career 30-goal season and tied Luc Robitaille, Jarome Iginla and Brendan Shanahan for the 11th most in NHL history
5️⃣0️⃣ Kirill Kaprizov became the first player in Wild history to record four consecutive 50-point seasons
3️⃣ Kreider nets hat trick, Rangers beat Canadiens for sixth win in a row