Sabres announce Jarmo Kekalainen Hired as Senior Advisor

[Slack_in_MA]

In situations like this, I always wonder about past precedents with other teams. You know, (team) brought in (person) to advise (other person) and it turned out (fill in the blank).

[Thorny]

3 minutes ago, Huckleberry said:

Like I said, Kevyn is on the clock.

I think the alarm went off already some time ago and he even used up his allotted snoozes 

[Two or less]

1 minute ago, LGR4GM said:

Idk why any of us have to fight about this at all. We can't know how it changes things. Wait and see is all we can do.

Of course, just like @gomper said this is a positive for the organization.  We don't have many of those around here.  

[That Aud Smell]

7 minutes ago, gomper said:

I think some of you are missing the point. Finally, an adult in the room with a successful past, other than Lindy. Will it work? That's anyone's guess but having an experienced voice in the organization is a positive thing. We'll see. 

That’s the whole point, for me.

[That Aud Smell]

8 minutes ago, Thorny said:

The more I think about this, the more it feels like Jarmo is essentially the shadow GM. Adams mannerisms didn’t line up with a guy still in charge, really. This guy has the experience…I think he’s the guy 

the non formalization at this time is merely pegula antics to save face 

When did Adams show these mannerisms? Today? Did they put out a video?

The guy’s never exhibited in-charge vibes during his entire time as GM.

[Thorny]

Ya. If you need the C to lead you are no leader at all. If Jarmo is the most fit to steer this ship he’ll be the one doing the steering 

1 minute ago, That Aud Smell said:

When did Adams show these mannerisms? Today? Did they put out a video?

The guy’s never exhibited in-charge vibes during his entire time as GM.

It was either on Friday or Stanksturday

[Taro T]

1 hour ago, PromoTheRobot said:

No, but will we wait until the end of next season to turn negative? Everyone wants to be the first to say "I told you so." People are already hedging their bets saying this move changes nothing.

Some won't wait until the end of the season to turn negative, some will wait until its official that another one has bitten the dust.

But, personally, see today as once again bringing us that fleeting glint of hope.  But regardless of whether that glint manages to germinate an actual seed into something fruitful or not; don't see where it's the fans fault that for far too long SHKIIIP has been nonarable land.  

Personally don't get why people must fan one certain way or they're doing it "wrong."  EVERYBODY at this site is ridiculously fanatical about this team (even the ones that have been nearly wiped from considering themselves fanatics or even simply the diminutive of that word "fans" any more).  If some poster "hedging" his view on today's news irks you so, why not just come up with a list of people to temporarily put on ignore and enjoy that once again we've been given a glint of hope.

[Thorny]

At his most press conference he looked a defeated man 

Most recent, even 

@That Aud Smell

Edited yesterday at 02:34 AM by Thorny

[Pimlach]

Digesting this longer, I think Jarmo will be strong voice in the planing and strategy, plus his past ability to execute trades will be helpful.  

[Thorny]

Agree. Vader wasn’t really on Tarkin’s leash, was he? @DarthEbriate

The Emperor is of course another matter but I digress 

[Thorny]

We can hope for a similar end result 

[Turbo44]

2 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

I don’t see Jarmo believes in trading away his best young players.

His record says otherwise. He’s not afraid to make trades, including his best young players

[nfreeman]

This move has restored hope in me that they are still trying to be a real NHL franchise.  At some point about 2/3 into the Bills’ pre-TP drought, I realized that Ralph had stopped trying and was just cashing the checks — and this past season I kinda got there with TP and the Sabres.  I hope I’m wrong.  This move helps.

But I won’t feel confident that TP is all in until I see them spending close to the cap this year.  

[GASabresIUFAN]

1 hour ago, Turbo44 said:

His record says otherwise. He’s not afraid to make trades, including his best young players

He is certainly willing to make deals, but which major young player did he trade away?

https://www.nhltradetracker.com/user/trade_list_by_GM/Jarmo_Kekalainen/135/4

I went through all four pages of his trade history and only saw one proven high end young talent developed in the CBJ system that he traded away.  I see plenty of acquisitions of proven talent like Duchene, Panarin and Saad. 

The closest to a JJP trade would have been Johansen for Seth Jones.  This was a swap of former top 4 picks.  At the time CBJ was in desperate need of talented young puck moving D.  We don't have such a need.

That 1 high level young player trades in 10 years as GM.

I'm sorry, but I don't see Jarmo advising Adams to move JJP.

 

Edited yesterday at 03:53 AM by GASabresIUFAN

[inkman]

2 hours ago, Pimlach said:

Digesting this longer…

[Scottysabres]

I don’t know how I should feel about this.

i could be my normal smart ass self and post a meme asking everyone else how I should feel, but alas, the teams 14 season run has even gutted me of any real humor on the situation.

I’ll just take the same approach I’ve had to take these past 14 seasons, wait and see how it all pans out. Am I more hopeful now than before? Not really. Have I fallen further in to the pit of hockey hell then before? Not really. I exist in my Sabres fandom, therefore I am. That’s all I got.

[JohnC]

12 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Do you believe the last 14 seasons failed for the exact same reason?

There are a number of reasons why this franchise has failed during the full tenure of this owner. Maybe for you but not for me, it isn't much of a challenge to determine the primary reason for this generation of failure: Terry Pegula. There has not been one season under his ownership which can categorized as a success. That's appalling. He, more than anyone else, is responsible for almost irretrievably damaging a franchise and obliterating a once vibrant fanbase. 

If you want to be oblivious to this owner's stupendous incompetency, that is your prerogative. I want him to succeed as an owner but what I'm not going to give him is the benefit of the doubt. At least for me, he hasn't earned it. And let's be clear, the fans are not betraying this arrogant and hubristic owner----he's betrayed the fans with his generation of foolishness. If he's not interested in being a serious owner, then he should sell, walk away with a bountiful profit and sail off on his big freaking boat. To be very blunt, I'm tired of this fool billionaire. 

[JohnC]

9 hours ago, nfreeman said:

This move has restored hope in me that they are still trying to be a real NHL franchise.  At some point about 2/3 into the Bills’ pre-TP drought, I realized that Ralph had stopped trying and was just cashing the checks — and this past season I kinda got there with TP and the Sabres.  I hope I’m wrong.  This move helps.

But I won’t feel confident that TP is all in until I see them spending close to the cap this year.  

I'm aligned with you in thinking/hoping that bringing in this experienced executive is a positive sign that the owner is more invested in the success of this franchise and not just coasting along. This is going to be an important offseason. I more inclined to think that there will be some consequential deals that will make this team better. We'll soon find out as the playoffs conclude and the draft approaches. What can't happen is this being a status quo offseason. That would be demoralizing.  

[Dr. Who]

14 minutes ago, JohnC said:

I'm aligned with you in thinking/hoping that bringing in this experienced executive is a positive sign that the owner is more invested in the success of this franchise and not just coasting along. This is going to be an important offseason. I more inclined to think that there will be some consequential deals that will make this team better. We'll soon find out as the playoffs conclude and the draft approaches. What can't happen is this being a status quo offseason. That would be demoralizing.  

What I find offensive, really, is the presumption by certain folks that there is somehow an irrational zeal to be disappointed and angry with the franchise. It’s such a ridiculous position, since only someone deeply committed to the team would continue to care about it and follow what is happening to them after the last fourteen years of misery. To those who malign the fan base for protesting the truly historic ineptitude of the Pegula ownership, the reaction to this hire is provisional, because there is no basis for trust in the leadership that has been consistent in failure, if not always in the tactics pursued.

At least this is undeniably an outside, veteran voice that is connected, and mature. It’s been lacking from the inception of TP’s time as captain of the ship he’s run aground. Most everyone is hopeful and glad to see at least a glimmer of responsibility. The complainers who repeatedly blame the fans should note that when there is a reasonable action, the response is affirmative. No one is eagerly waiting for the opportunity to bash the move.

[JohnC]

1 minute ago, Dr. Who said:

What I find offensive, really, is the presumption by certain folks that there is somehow an irrational zeal to be disappointed and angry with the franchise. It’s such a ridiculous position, since only someone deeply committed to the team would continue to care about it and follow what is happening to them after the last fourteen years of misery. To those who malign the fan base for protesting the truly historic ineptitude of the Pegula ownership, the reaction to this hire is provisional, because there is no basis for trust in the leadership that has been consistent in failure, if not always in the tactics pursued.

At least this is undeniably an outside, veteran voice that is connected, and mature. It’s been lacking from the inception of TP’s time as captain of the ship he’s run aground. Most everyone is hopeful and glad to see at least a glimmer of responsibility. The complainers who repeatedly blame the fans should note that when there is a reasonable action, the response is affirmative. No one is eagerly waiting for the opportunity to bash the move.

As you are staying, rational skepticism is a reasonable response to this odd owner. No one is giving him short shrift in assessing him. For some "believers" a generation of ownership is not enough time to make a judgment. If there is one person who doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt, it is this silent owner. I'm open-minded and waiting to see how things transpire this offseason. As you also noted, adding an experienced hockey man to the staff is a positive action.

[Archie Lee]

3 hours ago, Scottysabres said:

I don’t know how I should feel about this.

i could be my normal smart ass self and post a meme asking everyone else how I should feel, but alas, the teams 14 season run has even gutted me of any real humor on the situation.

I’ll just take the same approach I’ve had to take these past 14 seasons, wait and see how it all pans out. Am I more hopeful now than before? Not really. Have I fallen further in to the pit of hockey hell then before? Not really. I exist in my Sabres fandom, therefore I am. That’s all I got.

I used to have a boss who would respond to me describing how I felt about something by saying, "That's great Archie, but what do you think about it." He wasn't my favorite person to work for.  

If I was making an analogy to coaching, I would say that Kekalainan is to being an NHL GM as Dave Hakstol is to being an NHL head coach, or vice versa.  Kekalainan was a GM for longer than Hakstol was a head coach (11 years to 7 years), but GM's tend to get a longer leash. Both made the playoffs about 1/2 the time and had minor success once they got there. Ultimately, neither could find consistent success.

I won't try to tell anyone how they should feel or think about this (or anything), but I'll ask this question:  How would you feel about the Sabres adding Dave Hakstol to Ralph Krueger's coaching staff? I think, that I would feel like it is better to add some NHL head coaching experience to the staff rather that just having Steve Smith and Don Granato, but ultimately Ralph Krueger is still the head coach (not good). As for Hakstol then being a natural replacement for Krueger, well he would have been an upgrade, but Hakstol would not have been my first choice to be the Sabres' head coach.    

Edited 19 hours ago by Archie Lee

[PASabreFan]

9 hours ago, inkman said:

Didn't you mean...

[DarthEbriate]

12 hours ago, Thorny said:

Agree. Vader wasn’t really on Tarkin’s leash, was he? @DarthEbriate

The Emperor is of course another matter but I digress 

Right now, we're in between the prequel and original trilogies. 

I've got Grand Moff Tarkin as the Grand Ruff.

Jarmo Kekäläinen could still be anyone. But I hope he's Kekäluthen (Luthen from Andor). The seed of the rebellion operating inside (on the central planet) of Sheevyn's system.

[tom webster]

11 hours ago, GASabresIUFAN said:

He is certainly willing to make deals, but which major young player did he trade away?

https://www.nhltradetracker.com/user/trade_list_by_GM/Jarmo_Kekalainen/135/4

I went through all four pages of his trade history and only saw one proven high end young talent developed in the CBJ system that he traded away.  I see plenty of acquisitions of proven talent like Duchene, Panarin and Saad. 

The closest to a JJP trade would have been Johansen for Seth Jones.  This was a swap of former top 4 picks.  At the time CBJ was in desperate need of talented young puck moving D.  We don't have such a need.

That 1 high level young player trades in 10 years as GM.

I'm sorry, but I don't see Jarmo advising Adams to move JJP.

 

You have no real idea what the organization’s feelings are with regards to JJP. Maybe this is Dahlin’s “Drury/Satan” moment.

[LGR4GM]

34 minutes ago, tom webster said:

You have no real idea what the organization’s feelings are with regards to JJP. Maybe this is Dahlin’s “Drury/Satan” moment.

I keep wondering if Dahlin has spoken up to Adams about guys who are buying in and guys who are in it for their stats. Not saying that's Peterka, just a thought.