Sabres announce Jarmo Kekalainen Hired as Senior Advisor

[Drag0nDan]

10 minutes ago, Mango said:

That quote sounds like a guy that's already prepared to fight the whose talking about not wanting to come to Buffalo because of palm trees and taxes.

Hey Terry, if you're listening, if you can film Jarmo punching Kevyn in the face, I'll sign up for 4 season tickets that same day.

I like the fire and intensity in any case.  You're here to play hockey, and be the best hockey player you can be - its not like going to florida is any less hard work, nor are you expected to live in buffalo year round.  

[Rasmus_]

5 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

Kekäläinen drafted the following:

Merzlikins, Gavrikov, Kolesar, Peeke, Bemstrom, Sillinger (Cole). 

I don't think PLD, Werenski, Marchenko, Jiricek, Del Bel Belluz, etc. will be available. 

Kolesar and Gavrikov (UFA) are the only two of the other's in the first group of any sort of appeal.  Gavrikov is heavily linked to reupping with LAK, which makes some sense and Kolesar is possibly an RFA w/ Vegas this year. 

[Drag0nDan]

8 minutes ago, Rasmus_ said:

I hope not, he's even worse than UPL.  I wouldn't touch that repugnant contract w/ a 50 foot pole.   I've seen a lot of mock trades for players that would be available, and god could they be any worse.  Ideas like Marchessault who is 35 and signed for 5.5 for 4 more years for picks and young players.  I like the idea of a Marchessault, but not on that cap term.  We're already ***** because of Adams' last ***** move. 

Maybe we can trade them UPL and get something back?  Garbage in and garbage out?  

[LTS]

It's... a move.

I don't put much on the org structure concern. Pegula has proven he talks to everyone. 

This isn't a move that I think has no chance of making a difference, so there's that. But ultimately I don't care until they put a team on the ice that makes the playoffs.

[SHAAAUGHT!!!]

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

https://www.nhl.com/news/jarmo-kekalainen-wants-opportunity-to-be-nhl-gm

From 2024 when Columbus let him go. 

In this one interview JK already demonstrated he understands more about the actual dynamics of building and running a team than KA ever uttered in all his interviews combined.  I needed some good news about this team and hope I’m not getting too excited by the shiny new toy…

Edited Friday at 04:54 PM by SHAAAUGHT!!!

[Drag0nDan]

Realistically I just hope he's there to work with agents, and use his rolodex of contacts more effectively.  It's a pretty important off-season to make some moves in trades and free agency to re-make the roster, so I'm glad there's someone in the building that has made some history with both.  

Another set of eyes on the rest of the org's pieces too, from analytics, to scouting, to finance, coaching staff, etc.  Strength and conditioning was an issue, and they are making changes there - great.  Need to do more.  They need someone to look at anything and everything to figure out ways to fix it.  

Edited Friday at 05:01 PM by Drag0nDan

[PerreaultForever]

I'm not saying much other than FINALLY THEY DO SOMETHING SMART. 

[...]

1 hour ago, Thorny said:

Not saying it will happen just that it wouldn’t shock me. Would look like a logical turn of events, no? You are probably right that it’s not set in stone, really nothing is, but Terry and Adams and co realizing Jarmo should be in the actual Chair shortly after getting more personally acquainted with him on the job wouldn’t shock me 

Agreed. It could very well be a "play it as it goes" situation. As I've been reading this thread I'm struck by the notion that they may want to keep the present structure through the draft. Whomever they bring on will have input on the draft, and after that, based on the how things shake out, they proceed to solidifying a new management structure before the season begins. That would make the most sense both internally and as a PR exercise. Let's hope this is actually what they're thinking.

[Mango]

27 minutes ago, LTS said:

It's... a move.

I don't put much on the org structure concern. Pegula has proven he talks to everyone. 

This isn't a move that I think has no chance of making a difference, so there's that. But ultimately I don't care until they put a team on the ice that makes the playoffs.

If the Sabres can solve this they'll be fine.

[shrader]

40 minutes ago, Mango said:

Funny to think that somebody in the org thinks that Jarmo or somebody like him needs to learn the ropes.

See my rant against Adams as POHO above, and the fact that this was a thing that somebody, ANYBODY, in the org actually thought, let alone said, is why you cannnot keep Adams in the building let alone promote him to the top floor.

 

I don’t think anyone in the organization actually thinks that. You don’t hire a senior advisor to learn the ropes. The title says it all, they want experience. 
 

And I also don’t think this team is going the POHO route. They’ve shown no interest over the years in doing that, and quite frankly, I think it’s a fake position anyway. I’d imagine over half of the league doesn’t even have one. 

[pi2000]

I like the idea of it.

"Senior Advisor" tho?   Why not just name him POHO?

They make it sound like he'll just be a sounding board for KA.   In reality they need somebody who's much more than that.

This has all the makings of an internal power struggle between KA and JK, with Terry ultimately deciding who sticks around... this could get ugly very quickly as JK seems like a no-nonsense type of guy.

[Brawndo]

 

[DarthEbriate]

3 minutes ago, pi2000 said:

This has all the makings of an internal power struggle between KA and JK, with Terry ultimately deciding who sticks around... this could get ugly very quickly as JK seems like a no-nonsense type of guy.

There is always the possibility that Kekäläinen resigns or is fired because Pegula doesn't feel "heard" by him.

[PromoTheRobot]

2 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

How do you say "that's a ***** stupid idea" in Finnish?

Se on vitun typerä idea.
- per Google Translate

Who knew "idea" means the same in Finnish?

Edited Friday at 05:30 PM by PromoTheRobot

[SabreFinn]

1 minute ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Se on vitun typerä idea.
- per Google Translate

Correct Lol

[LGR4GM]

And now, we wait. 

[PerreaultForever]

I'm not going to be cynical about this. It's the first optimistic thing that has happened this off season. 

My hope is that, although he's technically answering to the GM, in reality Terry has given Adams etc. this season to get in the playoffs or he will clean house and that house cleaning will be everybody except JK who will be retained to either advise on the new GM hire, new coach hire etc. or will be the new GM himself. If it starts really bad KA can be fired mid season and JK can be interim GM'd to start. 

In any event I kind of see him as separate from the existing clown car and he's hopefully a dissenting voice of sense that gets listened to. 

[Weave]

Correction. Señor advisor.

[Porous Five Hole]

1 hour ago, ponokasabre said:

This is huge! I am so happy for the team, this is an excelent hire! He is well respected and hearing Harrington say they arent done yet, they will add more to the front office, shows that they are trying, they make mistakes, but they are trying.

 

Lets get the stupid stanley cup finals over so we can get to the off season lol

 

Any Jarmo favorites around the league we may look at?

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.  

Edited Friday at 05:59 PM by Porous Five Hole

[Mango]

35 minutes ago, pi2000 said:

I like the idea of it.

"Senior Advisor" tho?   Why not just name him POHO?

They make it sound like he'll just be a sounding board for KA.   In reality they need somebody who's much more than that.

This has all the makings of an internal power struggle between KA and JK, with Terry ultimately deciding who sticks around... this could get ugly very quickly as JK seems like a no-nonsense type of guy.

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.

[The Jokeman]

This actually looks like a good hire. 

[DarthEbriate]

8 minutes ago, Porous Five Hole said:

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).  

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.

[Weave]

1 minute ago, DarthEbriate said:

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.

[Brawndo]

3 hours ago, dudacek said:

I don't know that it's about perception, so much as it's about knowledge.

This challenges two of the biggest concerns about the front office construction: that it is full of rookies and that it is an echo chamber

Dude has been around forever, knows everybody and done it all.

 

2 hours ago, dudacek said:

I'm not really going to put too much emphasis on JK's track record as a GM right now; he's not here to steer things, or initiate them.

His role right now is to say "have you thought of this?", "why are we doing that?", "let me talk to ?, he knows..." and "Did you know..."

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 

 

 

[Porous Five Hole]

4 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

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.

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.