June 1, 2024 | 10:55pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

JENNER EXCITED TO SEE ADDS COLUMBUS MAKES

Boone Jenner, forward

The Columbus Blue Jackets officially welcomed Don Waddell as their new President of Hockey Operations and General Manager this week, and it didn’t take long to share his vision for the club moving forward.

With around $25 million in salary cap space going into the 2024-25 season, the Blue Jackets are expected to be active this off-season and Waddell will look to add extra fire power to the roster to help push them into playoff contender status.

“I wouldn’t take this kind of opportunity at this point in my career unless I felt like we could make a difference,” he told reporters this week, as quoted by BlueJackets.com. “There’s a lot of good pieces here. The previous management has done a good job with drafting.

“We have some challenges, of course – that's why they’re bringing me in – but it’s not like this is an organization that is going to take a long time to fix ... We’ll get this figured out and make everybody here in Columbus proud of the Blue Jackets.”

In an interview Saturday on “The Hot Stove” with Dennis Bernstein, David Pagnotta and Ryan Paton on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio, Blue Jackets captain Boone Jenner expressed his enthusiasm for the hire and the path the team is looking to go in.

“Obviously, it’s an exciting week for us as a group,” Jenner said. “Last year, with everything that was going on and heading into the off-season with all the uncertainties of General Manager and what direction we’re going. To have our guy hired this week, it’s pretty excited for us as a group.”

Jenner, who has two more years remaining on his contract, has already started his summer training in preparation for the new campaign. He is expected to jump on a call with Waddell in the coming days.

“I haven’t spoken with Don yet, but very shortly we will and get to work,” he said.

Waddell indicated he won’t rush into any decisions, but it is clear the mindset coming in is to help this team compete and give them the best opportunity to do so.

The Blue Jackets will need to make a decision on the Head Coach, as there is speculation over Pascal Vincent’s future behind the bench. After he and Waddell meet, the team can make a call on that position and then shift focus to the roster and the upcoming NHL Draft.