During his brief tenure, Jackson managed the NHL draft, securing a first-round pick to select right winger
Sam O'Reilly. On the first day of free agency, he landed big names like Victor Arvidsson and
Jeff Skinner, while retaining key players Mattias Janmark,
Troy Stecher,
Corey Perry, and
Connor Brown. He also made bold decisions, such as buying out
Jack Campbell and trading
Ryan McLeod and Ty Tullio to the Sabres for Matt Savoie.