Damn it, Columbus! Couldn't you at least wait until the end of the season?

Jarmo Kekalainen, the longest-serving general manager in Columbus Blue Jackets history, has been fired by the team. (Related: 2025 Winter Classic to be held at NHL Wrigley Stadium: Report)

Kekalainen, 57, was lured back to the Blue Jackets. February 2013And his hiring also ended up making history, as he became the NHL's first general manager born in Europe.

Columbus, which owns the worst record in the Eastern Conference at 16-26-10 (.404 scoring percentage), decided to pull the trigger. The Blue Jackets have not reached the postseason since the 2019-20 season. Under Kekalainen, Columbus reached the playoffs five times but won only one postseason series. That happened to be a shocking upset against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of 2019.

Jarmo Kekalainen has been fired as general manager.

John Davidson, along with the team's hockey operations management team, will assume general manager duties while the club conducts the process of hiring a replacement.

📝 https://t.co/ana2o90Adj pic.twitter.com/tqZ9wTKRMU

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) February 15, 2024

I get that Jarmo Kekalainen didn't do much with the keys for the Blue Jackets, but damn, after 11 years in one place, do you think you should be treated a little better…seriously? But Columbus couldn't wait until the end of the season to make this move?

Talk about a very rude and cruel slap to Kekalainen's face.