John Davidson joins Columbus Blue Jackets

Ever since it became abundantly clear that John Davidson was no longer going to be a part of the St. Louis Blues organization, many were pointing to Columbus as a potential destination.

Though Davidson’s work with the Blues wasn’t really complete -- as the team has yet to advance to even the conference finals under his leadership -- a front office restructuring under new ownership hastened his departure. It left the prominent former broadcaster-turned-executive one of the bigger free agents around that doesn’t lace ‘em up for his team.

Davidson, who was inducted into the NHL Hall of Fame in 2009, first interviewed with the Blue Jackets in May. In his new position in Columbus, Davidson will report directly to majority owner John P. McConnell, giving him power over general manager Scott Howson and the rest of the team’s front office.

This isn’t the first time Davidson and the Blue Jackets have had discussions. Davidson interviewed with with Columbus in May, but the two sides did not strike a deal. In addition to serving as president of hockey operations in St. Louis, Davidson has also been around the NHL as a player and broadcaster. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009.

Davidson was a staple of the franchise for seven seasons, as he most recently held the title of president and had helped the team elevate itself from a “league-wide joke” to a “widely accepted powerhouse-in-waiting,” says SB Nation Blues blog St. Louis Game Time:

Davidson will not only be remembered as one of the men behind all the Blues’ recent solid transactions, but by the way he carried himself as a spokesman of the organization:

When the Blues new ownership group headed by Tom Stillman took over control this past May, they made it clear that they wanted to cut costs and Davidson’s sizable contract became targeted as an area that could be shed.

Originally hired in the summer of 2006, Davidson came into a club that had posted the worst record in the league and was in the bottom five in attendance. Last year, the Blues finished third overall, tied for the second-most points in the league (two points back of first place) and won the Central Division title.