Jarmo Kekalainen is the former general manager of the Blue Jackets. It is estimated to be worth $5 million. Kekalainen became CEO in 1995 and joined the Blue Jackets in 2013. Jarmo Kekalainen, the longest-tenured and most successful general manager in Blue Jackets history, was fired Thursday. The announcement came as no surprise, but fans questioned the timing.
The NHL deadline is nearly three weeks away, and John Davidson, president of hockey operations, has taken over as acting general manager. Although one of the Blue Jackets’ greatest moments in history came under Jarmo, their inability to retain their best players was a concern. Previously, the club failed to sign Sergej Bobrovsky and Artemi Panarin as free agents. It has become a constant trend for Jarmo.
Net worth of Jarmo Kekäläinen before dismissal
Jarmo Kekäläinen, the longtime general manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets, is projected to have a net worth of $5 million. The Finnish hockey player began his career as a player in his own country before coming to the United States to attend Clarkson University and eventually join the National Hockey League. He signed with the Boston Bruins in 1989 and spent two seasons with the team before returning to Finland. He didn’t make much of an impression in Boston, and his contract is still under wraps, but it’s hard to imagine him being paid six figures.
In Finland, he joined KalPa before moving to Tappara “A” the following season. The two clubs compete in the SM-liiga, and the league’s average salary in 2024 is estimated at $100,000. He spent one season with the Ottawa Senators in the US before joining Västerås IK in Sweden. He retired in 1995 after suffering a knee injury. As a result, it is widely believed that Kekalainen earned much more as a manager than as a player. His first managerial position was in the Finnish club IFK Helsinki in 1995. From 1995 to 1999, he was the general manager of the club.
At the same time, Kekalainen worked as a European scout for the Ottawa Senators. In 1999, he became the Senators’ full-time director of player personnel. Jarmo joined the St. Louis Blues in 2002 and held several jobs until 2009. He was director of player personnel for three years, director of amateur scouting for another three, and assistant general manager for the past six seasons. Jarm’s salary while holding these positions was most likely between $100,000 and $500,000.
His tenure as general manager of the Blue Jackets
Jarmo returned to Finland in 2010 and led the club Jokerit. After three years at Jokerit, Jarmo took on his most important duty so far. Jarmo was named general manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets in February 2013. At the time, the new NHL general manager’s salary was believed to be between $600,000 and $1 million.
The Finnish director’s compensation may have increased when he extended his contract in 2018 and again in 2021. Many people estimate that Jarmo was paid between $2 million and $2.5 million. The salaries of general managers in the NHL have gradually increased. Ken Holland, general manager of the Ottawa Senators, reportedly received a five-year, $25 million contract in 2019. The Red Wings initially offered Holland $3 to $3.5 million to keep him, but the Senators were able to lure him away. When determining GM compensation, team performance is taken into account, and the Jackets have not been as successful. So, Jarmo, getting paid more than $4 million is unlikely.
The Blue Jackets fired Jarmo Kekalainen after 11 years at the helm
The resignation of Jarmo Kekalainen was not unexpected. Doubts existed for months before he was removed. Jarm’s hiring in 2013 was historic as he became the NHL’s first European-born general manager. Under Jarma, the Blue Jackets made the playoffs five times and won their only series in 2019.
John Davidson, the Blue Jackets’ president of hockey operations and alternate governor, announced Jarm’s dismissal Thursday. Davidson returned to Columbus in 2021, and at the same time his return and the renewal of his contract with Jarma were announced. Following Jarmo’s sacking, Davidson said: “This is one of the hardest days I’ve had in my career, as Jarmo is a friend, someone I greatly admire and someone who has done many wonderful things during his tenure here.
While the future of our club looks promising, our performance has not been satisfactory and it is time for a fresh look at how we move forward.” Davidson will take over as CEO in the meantime, supported by the rest of the management team. Davidson stated that Jarm’s successor will come from outside the company.
Categories: Entertaintment
Source: vcmp.edu.vn