Report: Blue Jackets expected to name Don Waddell to management role
After becoming a “free agent” barely 24 hours ago, one of the game’s longtime figures might have already found a new home.
According to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, the Columbus Blue Jackets are projected to reveal Don Waddell as the man taking over the top hockey operations job with the organization. LeBrun says, if all goes according to plan, an announcement could be made “over the coming week.”
Nothing is finalized yet but hearing that Don Waddell is the Blue Jackets’ choice to take over the top hockey ops job in Columbus.
If things proceed smoothly, should see an announcement over the coming week. @TSNHockey @TheAthletic
Waddell had been serving as the president of the Carolina Hurricanes for the past 10 seasons, pulling double duty as the team’s general manager since 2018. The Detroit, Michigan native formally resigned from his role on Friday, with Hurricanes naming Eric Tulsky as the interim GM.
Under’s Waddell guidance, the Hurricanes found success they had not seen in a decade, making it to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the last six seasons, advancing to the Eastern Conference final in 2019 and 2023.
It is unknown exactly how the addition of Waddell would affect the current regime in Columbus. Veteran executive, and former NHL goaltender John Davidson, is the current president of hockey operations, as well as the interim general manager after the Blue Jackets fired Jarmo Kekäläinen back in February.
The franchise wants to add fresh faces that can turn the team back around after missing the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, finishing at the bottom of the division for the third time in four years.
The potential addition of Waddell might not be the only big management swing the Blue Jackets make this offseason. During Friday’s edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, DFO Insider Frank Seravalli speculated that current Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland might team up with Waddell in Columbus. Waddell was an assistant GM under Holland when the Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup in the 1997-98 season.
Holland is in the final year of his contract with the Oilers, while the team is also playing in the Western Conference final.
Waddell has been working in either a front office or hockey operations capacity since 1985, cutting his teeth in the minor leagues before becoming the first and only general manager of the Atlanta Thrashers. During his tenure with the Thrashers, Waddell also served as vice president and executive vice president of hockey operations.