There's a couple of circumstances that have led to that position, largely the fact that the Blue Jackets have only one unrestricted free agent-to-be – generally the most active bit of currency in the NHL at the deadline – on the roster in Jack Roslovic. Add in the growth the team has seen out of its bevy of young players this season, and there’s little reason to rock the boat if the Jackets don’t have to.
Columbus is also without a full-time general manager at the moment, another factor at play. Davidson and his staff – assistant general managers Josh Flynn and Basil McRae, plus director of player development Rick Nash and director of player personnel Chris Clark – have handled the deadline after the team relieved former GM Jarmo Kekalainen of his duties in February, and there is a thought that the Jackets don’t need to change too much before a new GM is appointed.
"We’re open for business, but I don't think it's going to be anything earth-shattering, simply because we have a new general manager that is going to be coming in here and it gives that person a chance to put their fingerprints on the club,” Davidson said. “Whoever comes in will have an opportunity to make their own moves.”
As for being more involved in the day-to-day business of the deadline with his staff, Davidson said, “The experience has been great. I’m working with Josh Flynn and Basil McRae mostly, and we have Chris Clark and Rick Nash, and so we’re just trying to take care of business that we have to take care of.”
As for moves the Jackets could make, Roslovic is a name to watch simply because of his contract status, while there’s been a season-long logjam among defensemen that could make the Jackets an attractive trade partner. And one must remember, sometimes a bigger move is just a phone call away.
The Blue Jackets have already made one deal as the deadline nears, trading wing Emil Bemstrom to Pittsburgh for a conditional draft pick as well as forward Alex Nylander. The deal for the 25-year-old Swede has already paid dividends, with Nylander notching a hat trick Monday and scoring six points in his first six games with the team.
"I’m happy for him,” Davidson said. “The coaches like his intelligence on the ice. The little things that a lot of fans don’t see, he seems to be doing pretty well. Then when he explodes like (Monday) night, everybody is happy. It was a good win and he was a big part of it. You don't get too many opportunities in this game. This is a great chance for him to show his stuff, and I think that it’s not only his getting the points or this and that, but he’s a pretty smart player. He’s had a nice start, so I’m happy for him.”
Once the trade deadline passes, Davidson said the Blue Jackets will start to turn more attention to the search for a new general manager. Much of that work might not conclude until the offseason as teams work their way through the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but Davidson as excited at both the quality and quantity of people who have already reached out to the Blue Jackets about the job.
"There’s been a ton of interest,” Davidson said. "There’s a lot of very qualified people out there who are very interested in our situation. These jobs don’t come along very often, and in turn I think – and I’ve said this many times – when you add it all up, the city itself, our ownership, where the team sits with its future, it’s going in the right direction as far as I’m concerned.
“There’s some real bona fide interest. Dozens of people have applied or at least have reached out and would like to talk to us about it. Once we get through the deadline, (team president) Mike Priest and I will start that side of the coin and get it going.”
