If I were to compare Jarmo Kekalainen to any other GM in the NHL, Lou Lamoriello might be my choice. Not because Jarmo has had the same level of success; but the two share some common bonds here. Both guys play their cards extremely close to their chests, and don’t use words unless they absolutely know what the outcome is going to be.
Jarmo has been vocal about wanting to improve the Blue Jackets roster on defense and down the middle, which meets the criteria for another potential big trade. After adding Ivan Provorov and, more notably for the purpose of discussion here, Damon Severson – the Jackets have no fewer than six guys playing for three jobs on the right side of the defense.