Don Waddell, President of Hockey Operations and General Manager

Don Waddell was named the president of hockey operations, general manager and alternate governor for the Columbus Blue Jackets on May 29, 2024. He oversees all hockey operations activities for the club.

Prior to Columbus, Waddell spent the past 10 years with the Carolina Hurricanes, serving as team president from 2014-18 and as team president and general manager from 2018-24. Over the last six seasons, Carolina compiled a 278-130-44 record to rank second in the NHL in points percentage (.664; Boston - .695) and third in wins (Boston - 289, Tampa Bay - 283). The Hurricanes won three division titles (2021-Central, 2022 and 2023-Metropolitan), advanced to the Stanley Cup Playoffs each year and earned trips to the Eastern Conference Finals twice (2019, 2023) during that time. Prior to his taking over as general manager, Carolina had missed the playoffs in 11 of the 12 previous seasons.

Waddell began his NHL career in 1997-98 and won a Stanley Cup championship as an assistant general manager with the Detroit Red Wings. The following year, he joined the expansion Atlanta Thrashers as vice president of hockey operations and general manager and would serve in that role until 2010 when he was named team president. He also served as executive vice president and co-chair of the executive committee of the Atlanta Spirit, the parent company of the Thrashers, the National Basketball Association’s Atlanta Hawks and Philips Arena. He then had a three-year stint as a consultant and pro scout with the Pittsburgh Penguins before arriving in Carolina in 2014.

The Detroit, Michigan native also has served in several capacities with USA Hockey during his career. In 2013, he was named international consultant with a special focus on player identifi cation and interface with the U.S. National Junior Team and USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program. He served as general manager for Team USA at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy, and at the 2001, 2002 and 2005 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championships. As a player, he helped Team USA to win the gold medal at the 1983 IIHF World Championships.

Prior to embarking on his NHL management career, Waddell spent a decade as executive vice president and general manager of International Hockey League (IHL) franchises in San Diego (1990-95) and Orlando (1995-97) and was twice named IHL Executive of the Year (1992-93, 1995-96). In Orlando, he was vice president of RDV Sports and served on the executive committee that oversaw the NBA’s Orlando Magic, the IHL’s Orlando Solar Bears and the company’s retail and aviation interests.

Waddell played four seasons of Division I collegiate hockey as a defenseman and majored in business management at Northern Michigan University from 1976-80. He was a seventh-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings at the 1978 NHL Draft and spent three years with the organization. He went on to play parts of nine seasons as a professional, mostly in the IHL. He also served as head coach of the IHL’s San Diego Gulls in 1991-92 and was interim head coach of the Thrashers on two occasions (2002-03, 2007-08) during his tenure with the club.