The NHL draft lottery is finally in the rearview and the Blue Jackets can now focus on their offseason planning.
They’re picking third at the draft June 28-29 in Nashville, so next up is putting together an organizational draft rankings list before hiring a coach to replace Brad Larsen. Interviews have already begun, so what’s left of that process could move quickly.
“The coaching search is going on, has been going on for a while and once we get through these amateur meetings, we’ll get to that with even more of a focus,” Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said Monday night. “We should expect a decision on that sooner rather than later, but we want to make sure we do our due diligence very carefully.”
Kekalainen and the rest of his hockey operations staff have kept a tight lid on information, but the list of available coaching candidates with extensive NHL experience has grown since firing Larsen.
Now available are former Calgary Flames head coach Darryl Sutter and former New York Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant, who coached the Blue Jackets from 2004-06 and was a candidate for Columbus when Larsen was hired in June 2021.
Peter Laviolette is weighing his future after mutually parting ways with the Washington Capitals, former Vancouver Canucks coach Bruce Boudreau is available and two more big names are without coaching gigs in Mike Babcock and Joel Quenneville.
Babcock hasn’t worked in the NHL since being fired in 2019 by the Toronto Maple Leafs following allegations of ‘verbal assault’ waged by multiple players. Quenneville, second all-time in NHL coaching wins and a three-time Stanley Cup winner, needs reinstatement from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman after his role in covering up Kyle Beach’s sexual assault allegations with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010.
Quenneville, Sutter, Laviolette and Babcock have all won the Stanley Cup. Gallant took the Vegas Golden Knights to the Cup final in 2018 and the Rangers to the Eastern Conference final in 2022. Boudreau, a candidate in 2021 who hasn’t been contacted this time around, has taken multiple teams to conference finals.
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The Blue Jackets might also consider associate coach Pascal Vincent, whose job was temporarily spared in the Larsen move, or go with an assistant on a team still in the playoffs, such as the New Jersey Devils’ Andrew Brunette. They could also explore the college ranks, where Quinnipiac’s Rand Pecknold has become a buzz name after winning an NCAA national title this season.
“That’s obviously a very important position,” Kekalainen said. “We talk about a culture a lot. We talk about the standard that the coach has to set every day. Experience is always something that’s an advantage. It’s never going to work against you, but at the same time, every great coach in this league had to get a start at some point. So, it’s not the only criteria that we have.”
Columbus Blue Jackets nominate Zach Werenski for King Clancy
The NHL released its 32 nominees for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy on Tuesday and the Blue Jackets put defenseman Zach Werenski into the field of candidates.
The King Clancy is awarded annually, “to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice, and who has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution to his community.”
After sustaining a season-ending shoulder injury 13 games into the season, Werenski spent time in Columbus rehabbing and contributing in a humanitarian role off the ice. His charitable contributions included purchasing a suite at Nationwide Arena to host special groups for game experiences plus a $50,000 donation to The Salvation Army of Central Ohio for Christmas programs.
He also filmed a television special with The Salvation Army to encourage others to support the organization’s efforts and made special appearances around the Columbus area throughout the season. Werenski was named the Blue Jackets’ “Community MVP” in March and the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation made a $5,000 donation to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, per his request.
Nick Foligno is the only Blue Jackets player who has won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, earning the honor in 2017. The winner is selected by a committee of senior NHL executives led by commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly. The NHL will award a $25,000 donation to a charity or charities of the winner’s choosing and two runners-up will each get to assign a $5,000 donation.
bhedger@dispatch.com
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets looking to wrap up coaching search ‘soon’
