The Blue Jackets yesterday announced that President of Hockey Operations John Davidson, GM Jarmo Kekalainen and Assistant GM Bill Zito have all "signed two-year extensions, putting them under contract" through the '18-19 season, according to Aaron Portzline of the COLUMBUS DISPATCH. The execs were "entering the final years of their contract, an ominous sign for a club that has missed the Stanley Cup playoffs in two straight seasons and bottomed out with the fourth-worst record in the NHL last season." The Blue Jackets have had the "best four-year run (143-124-27) in franchise history since Davidson arrived" in October '12, but they have qualified for the postseason "only once in that span." After only four months with the Blue Jackets, Davidson "brought Kekalainen on board" as GM at midseason, replacing Scott Howson. Although Davidson "isn’t asking for patience, he insists that he, Kekalainen, Zito and others have a plan." Zito, who "negotiates most of the club’s contracts, joined the Blue Jackets" in '14 and took over as GM of the AHL Cleveland Monsters last season, "winning the Calder Cup" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 9/7).
