"As of early last month, it has been three years since Scott Howson took over as general manager of the Blue Jackets, a steady, patient hand replacing the hot-headed, knee-jerk ways of his predecessor, Doug MacLean. To say Howson has made sweeping changes within Nationwide Arena would be an understatement. Every player in the Blue Jackets dressing room this season will fit one of the following criteria: he either was drafted, acquired in a trade, signed to a contract or contract extension by Howson. Only three players who played as Blue Jackets in 2006-07 - Rick Nash, Rostislav Klesla and Marc Methot - are still with the organization. Further, late last season, Howson fired the coach he acquired upon his hiring - Ken Hitchcock - and replaced him with his own choice, Scott Arniel. His players. His coaches. His cross to bear if the Blue Jackets flop again in 2010-11. Howson's contract with the Blue Jackets expires on June30, 2011, but it includes an "evergreen" clause, which guarantees a one-year buyout by the club from the moment he's notified that he'll no longer be retained." http://www.bluejacketsxtra.com/live...e-jackets-bear-stamp-of-their-gm.html?sid=101
It also means he's now technically under contract until June 30, 2012 unless either side declined that option. But I digress... Howson's done a decent job building a team under the budgetary restrictions that exist with the Blue Jackets.
