The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced changes to their front office staff, per a team released statement.
Perhaps the biggest addition is the return of Craig Hartsburg as an amateur scout and defense development coach. He had been with the Blue Jackets as an associate coach and scout from 2012-17 in total. The defense development coach is a new title for the organization and one that bears watching.
In addition, the club hired Troy Dumville, Mikko Mäkelä and Lukas Sutter as amateur scouts, and hired Zac Urback as an analyst. Danny Flynn and Dave Peters were promoted to full-time amateur scouts. Jared Boll was promoted to a full-time assistant development coach and team ambassador.
#CBJ announce changes in hockey operations department.https://t.co/qG8ZcarVUW
— CBJ Public Relations (@BlueJacketsPR) July 12, 2019
The organization also brought in former NHL goaltender Niklas Backstrom, who played 10 seasons in the league, most notably with the Minnesota Wild. He'll serve as the Blue Jackets' European Goaltending Coach, which makes sense as both he and GM Jarmo Kekalainen have familiar ties with the Finnish Liiga.
John Hamre was named video coach for the Cleveland Monsters.
Per the statement, Chris Morehouse (Assistant Director of Amateur Scouting), Marshall Davidson, Derek Ginnell and Austin Powell (scouts) are no longer with the organization.
