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The It Factor - Blue Jackets Hire John Davidson |
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“The It Factor” is something that people talk about but is very hard to explain but you also know it when you see it. John Davidson has that “It Factor” that the Blue Jackets organization has been missing since it's beginning.
It first starts with a presence that is bigger than life. He is a lightning rod for people as people are naturally drawn to him. It also is his gift of communication. His communication style is direct with no willingness to play games. Which also leads to maybe his greatest attribute for the Blue Jackets and that is accountability. He will hold everyone's feet to the fire and the effect will roll all the way down from general manager to coaches to scouts to even the equipment personnel.
The other old saying that is old as dirt but still very true is that it all starts at the top. Having Davidson now president of hockey operations finally starts what the Blue Jackets hope is a long standing and successful franchise that will challenge and maybe even win a Stanley Cup. Davidson said that this has to be built “one brick at a time.” The amount of bricks needed could probably rebuild Nationwide Arena and he knows that.
What also is clear is that Davidson sees himself as a builder. I don't think he would enjoy going to the Red Wings or the Rangers or the L.A. Kings and doing the same job. There system and success has already been built and they would just want him to maintain it and make small improvements. Coming to Columbus he gets to bake this cake from scratch. He has the keys to the kingdom with the understanding wide sweeping changes are needed. He relishes that situation as he did when he went to St. Louis and took over a franchise that was possibly in worse shape than what the Blue Jackets are in now. Certainly attendance was worse and he has helped turn it into a team that put up 109 points last season.
It also marks only the second time in franchise history that I can remember that you can't question in any way the hire. Ken Hitchcock was the other one. Hitchcock as a coach can deliver short burst of success as he did with the Blue Jackets without the help of a hockey operations that gives him the players needed. Davidson on the other hand has the ability to not only build a long standing winner under his reign but also build the knowledge base that is need for this franchise to understand what it takes to win in the NHL.
Anyone that thinks that the Blue Jackets haven't been trying to win is wrong. What they have been doing is putting there efforts in the wrong places. It's like getting your car stuck in the snow and you rev your engine until you blow the engine and it won't go anywhere. Davidson will get the right people in the right places to make the transition. There have been many hires by the Blue Jackets of good people put in situations that they either weren't ready for or did not have the skill set to succeed and it shows. You can bet that won't happen now with Davidson at the wheel.
People in the organization need to know that when Davidson said, "We want an organization that's not going to be outworked anywhere. Everyone needs to understand that," he means it. Due to that, it's an accountability that will make everyone that stays with the organization better and also set the expectations for the personnel that is sure to come in.
Most would have felt that the trading of Rick Nash would be the biggest move that the Blue Jackets would make before they play hockey again in Nationwide Arena. Davidson is bigger and will have long reaching effects on the franchise that will be seen long after his time in Columbus is over.
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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