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Oilers have home ice. Should be good series.

Welcome. Hope he helps. Criticizing him now is just an exercise in complaining.

I'm encouraged by this announcement. Its fresh eyes from an experienced former executive brought into the stale mix. An interesting question is how does this change the Karmonos role?

This is a big nothing since KA and TP are still in charge.

He has the cushiest job in the face of the earth. If they fail, it’s Adams fault. Any success and he gets credit.

Sorry to be the Debbie Downer, but there are a couple of reasons for why this really doesn't move the needle for me. First, Kevyn Adams is still the GM. If Adams were fired (or promoted) and Kekalainen was being brought in as the new GM or as an advisor to Karmanos, I would be somewhat happy; that would be almost solely from the perspective of: this can't be worse than Adams. As is, this amounts to Adams getting a chance at a reset. In the shoot-out era (no more ties), Pierre Dorian is the only GM to have a job longer than Adams while producing a worse points %. Adams is bad at being a GM and bringing in someone to advise him in year 6, is not a solution. I'm not excited about Adams potentially getting a mulligan. Second, Kekalainen had had, at best, mediocre results in his time as a GM. He has a .471 winning %. He missed the playoffs his last 4 years in Columbus. He recently hired Mike Babcock; not the 2015 version of Mike Babcock, but the 2023 version, who everyone knew was a world-class wanker. As an advisor, it may not be the worst thing (aside from who he is advising). As a First-In-Line-To-The GM-Position, it's at best a big meh for me. There will be those who see Kekalainen as GM as a big step up (he did make the playoffs 5 of 10 seasons in Columbus); but I think every time you hire a GM or HC you should be trying for a home-run. Each new hire in those positions is a chance to find The Guy who defines your franchise for years. Kekalainen is almost certainly not going to be our Jim Nill, or Bill Zito, or Doug Armstrong. So, as Senior Advisor? Sure, but the big issue remains who he will be advising. And as a potential future GM? I guess he probably can't be worse.

You beat me to it. He will be our next gm.

I don't believe Philly is going to tank. His old school tough guy coach era is long past. You may not be aware of it but dinosaurs died off a long time ago. If our obtuse and nostalgic seeking owner hired Torts as a coach, then all the air out of the "hope" bag would be released. The Philly organization had enough of this obnoxious faux pas strong man just like every organization he has worked for has. If Terry P hired him, he is even a bigger fool than what I already think of him. And that is saying a lot. Terry P is inclined to the past for solutions. Hiring Torts or a Torts like coach would guarantee him as a first ballot selection in the Fools Ownership HOF. No thank you.

If it looks like we're going to have another bottom 10 season next season my guess is as early as next March unless we sacrifice Adams and make Kek our new GM.

His contract though. I mean you're committing to him long term or going to have buy him out which hurts if want to extend Tuch, JJP etc.

I like this plan and think a guy like Dan Vlader could fit this part. You might have to throw him starting money (am thinking 4-5 million for three years?) He's still younger at 28 next season and at very least could start 30-40 games until Levi ready to make the jump.

So... Appert to scouting? Leone to Lindy's assistant? Lindy retires/gets moved up and Leone takes over?

The bigger question: How long before we are calling for Kekäläinen's head?

It will be the final nail in the coffin for the Sabres' front office if it plays out like this. No one will want to get near that stink afterward. The rest of the hockey world understands that KA should not be GM of this team. KA has no leverage and if anything happens, it will be KA vacating the GM position. I would rather this be a move by Pegula to shake up the front office in a controlled manner.

You make a fair point. However I do think it’s important to consider Jarmo’s decisions separately. I’m sure he was under different overlays than Buffalo decision makers, but his hires aged poorly.

I think this is the biggest plus of Jarmo joining the front office. The existing staff is all on one year deals and people in that situation have a tendency to look out for themselves. Another problem with GMKA was letting the various factions in the front office each make a decision. I think JK will help limit that. We also can not discount the fact that JK was willing to make the big trade, he might be what Adams needs to push deals over the finish line

vs. Rolston (serious hire to work with new core before outright tank), Nolan (nostalgia re-tread during outright tank = no chance to win), Byslma (serious hire to rebuild), Housley (serious hire for new active D-direction), Krueger (serious???), Granato (offensive-only direction), Ruff (only interviewee in a nostalgia re-tread with only a 2-year contract before heading upstairs -- to bridge to a serious hire???) Can't be any worse.

Maybe.

This actually looks like a good hire.

Honestly? Let's get this out of the way with Ruff in the building. Jarmo loses that battle with Pegula of it is Adams/Appert as GM/HC vs Jarmo. But if it can be Jarmo/Lindy vs Adams the fans stand a chance for a new direction.

In five years.

Not what you asked, but I think it is interesting who he hired as head coach. John Tortorella (after his brutal one season in Vancouver—his tenure was fine in Columbus), Brad Larsen (meh), Mike Babcock (this hire turned the tide against him as a GM), & Pascal Vincent (lasted one season after Jarmo was fired). Perhaps his role as advisor suits him better than being the organizational decision maker.

Wow if our draft came away Martin with 9 and Nestrasil at 2 that would go a long way towards upping the compete level of this team