Sabres announce Jarmo Kekalainen Hired as Senior Advisor

[Pimlach]

6 hours ago, JohnC said:

What was the source of the LaFontaine embittered departure? If I recall correctly the buyout included a non-disclosure clause. 

The source of his departure was the trade of Ryan Miller.  LaFontaine wanted to keep Miller to help them through the tank/rebuild.  Which would have been smart to keep a few guys that cared on the team.  

[That Aud Smell]

It seems odd that LaFontaine hasn't sniffed another NHL (EDIT) team job since his abrupt departure from the Sabres in March 2014.

I looked at his Wiki to get that date. There, I learned that LaFontaine's tenure with the Islanders' FO was even shorter than it was in Buffalo -- a mere 6 weeks during the summer of 2006.

Edited Thursday at 06:49 PM by That Aud Smell

[Weave]

23 minutes ago, That Aud Smell said:

It seems odd that LaFontaine hasn't sniffed another NHL job since his abrupt departure from the Sabres in March 2014.

I looked at his Wiki to get that date. There, I learned that LaFontaine's tenure with the Islanders' FO was even shorter than it was in Buffalo -- a mere 6 weeks during the summer of 2006.

Didn’t he work for the league for a bit after he left the Sabres?

[shrader]

2 minutes ago, Weave said:

Didn’t he work for the league for a bit after he left the Sabres?

I was going to ask the same thing. 

[That Aud Smell]

29 minutes ago, Weave said:

Didn’t he work for the league for a bit after he left the Sabres?

26 minutes ago, shrader said:

I was going to ask the same thing. 

I suck.

Sorry. I meant that he hadn't worked for another NHL team's front office.

I believe he's still intermittently employed by the NHL -- as a league ambassador, etc.

[Pimlach]

21 hours ago, That Aud Smell said:

It seems odd that LaFontaine hasn't sniffed another NHL (EDIT) team job since his abrupt departure from the Sabres in March 2014.

I looked at his Wiki to get that date. There, I learned that LaFontaine's tenure with the Islanders' FO was even shorter than it was in Buffalo -- a mere 6 weeks during the summer of 2006.

Right or wrong his legacy is to quit at the first signs of controversy, and was he ever really qualified to be a POHO?   

I do believed he was wronged by both Terry and Murray and the rest of the Sabres clown show at the time, but nothing in his post career indicates that he was ready to be a POHO.   

[Standing Room Smoking Cigs]

So Jarmo is on Sabres Live, Yeesh Duff and Biron are throwing slow pitch softballs. Jarmo said he's 24/7 invested did they ask if he's moving to Buffalo? No, they spent time driveling about Clarkson... Not one question about his role in the Sabres going forward. Apparently questions about Kevyn and his input is taboo. Oh great we are now talking computers and AI. I get Duff's role but Marty on TSN is a different Marty on Sabres Live. What a waste of 19 minutes I'll never get back 

[JohnC]

22 minutes ago, Standing Room Smoking Cigs said:

So Jarmo is on Sabres Live, Yeesh Duff and Biron are throwing slow pitch softballs. Jarmo said he's 24/7 invested did they ask if he's moving to Buffalo? No, they spent time driveling about Clarkson... Not one question about his role in the Sabres going forward. Apparently questions about Kevyn and his input is taboo. Oh great we are now talking computers and AI. I get Duff's role but Marty on TSN is a different Marty on Sabres Live. What a waste of 19 minutes I'll never get back 

You are right that Marty on WGR is deliberately cautious when discussing the team and organization. Bread and butter considerations come into play. That’s disappointing because I consider him to be an excellent analyst.

[Standing Room Smoking Cigs]

19 minutes ago, JohnC said:

You are right that Marty on WGR is deliberately cautious when discussing the team and organization. Bread and butter considerations come into play. That’s disappointing because I consider him to be an excellent analyst.

I get that, but for the love of Jesus, what was wrong about asking what he thinks his job will entail. Terrible way to introduce him to Sabres fans. Once again the fail is strong. My late Newfoundland dog didn't slobber as much as Duff and Marty did in that pitiful performance. Yep when we bring up Newfoundlands and slobbering we have hit rock bottom. I totally expect Duff and Marty waxing poetically about the Blue Sun and Yellow Sky on Monday.

Edited 10 hours ago by Standing Room Smoking Cigs
new wording

[...]

39 minutes ago, JohnC said:

You are right that Marty on WGR is deliberately cautious when discussing the team and organization. Bread and butter considerations come into play. That’s disappointing because I consider him to be an excellent analyst.

Money is the root of all evil. It's always been true. 

[JohnC]

19 minutes ago, ... said:

Money is the root of all evil. It's always been true. 

I wouldn’t put it in those terms. It’s simply when you are near shark infested waters you are careful/mindful where you are at.

[PromoTheRobot]

2 hours ago, Standing Room Smoking Cigs said:

So Jarmo is on Sabres Live, Yeesh Duff and Biron are throwing slow pitch softballs. Jarmo said he's 24/7 invested did they ask if he's moving to Buffalo? No, they spent time driveling about Clarkson... Not one question about his role in the Sabres going forward. Apparently questions about Kevyn and his input is taboo. Oh great we are now talking computers and AI. I get Duff's role but Marty on TSN is a different Marty on Sabres Live. What a waste of 19 minutes I'll never get back 

Maybe those were topics they didn't want discussed.

"So tell me, Jarmo? is Kevyn Admas the biggest simp you've ever encountered, and how do you feel about having to answer to him?"

"How desperate were you to take this job?"

Edited 8 hours ago by PromoTheRobot

[JohnC]

20 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Maybe those were topics they didn't want discussed.

"So tell me, Jarmo? is Kevyn Admas the biggest simp you've ever encountered, and how do you feel about having to answer to him?"

"How desperate were you to take this job?"

The general point that the posters are making here is that Marty on WGR is more inclined to tip toe on issues as compared to when he is on TSN where he is more analytical and incisive when talking about players and other teams. The comparison between being bland on one stage and speaking critically, but fairly, on another stage is noticeable. One forum wants and allows forthrightness while the other stage doesn't encourage it. If you don't put some salt in your soup it turns out to be bland. 

[PromoTheRobot]

12 minutes ago, JohnC said:

The general point that the posters are making here is that Marty on WGR is more inclined to tip toe on issues as compared to when he is on TSN where he is more analytical and incisive when talking about players and other teams. The comparison between being bland on one stage and speaking critically, but fairly, on another stage is noticeable. One forum wants and allows forthrightness while the other stage doesn't encourage it. If you don't put some salt in your soup it turns out to be bland. 

Sabres Live is still state radio so it's understandable.

[JohnC]

I agree with you to an extent. The boundaries are certainly a lot tighter for the hosts working for the station that broadcasts the home team. The point that I and others are making is that it is noticeably different when Marty is on TSN and when he is on WGR. On the outside outlet Marty is a superb analyst and candid, while on WGR he is restricted and bland. Being tepid on a media forum is not very appealing to the audience. 

[Standing Room Smoking Cigs]

46 minutes ago, JohnC said:

The general point that the posters are making here is that Marty on WGR is more inclined to tip toe on issues as compared to when he is on TSN where he is more analytical and incisive when talking about players and other teams. The comparison between being bland on one stage and speaking critically, but fairly, on another stage is noticeable. One forum wants and allows forthrightness while the other stage doesn't encourage it. If you don't put some salt in your soup it turns out to be bland. 

Exactly But how do you fail in such as asking a simple question as "How do define your role here?" That's the beef, they wouldn't touch it. They treated Jarmo like a Sabre Ambassador, not a good lóok. Gilbert up in Quebec is shaking his head.

[Cityo'Rasmii]

So, can Jarmo navigate Howdy Doody and our owner? 

Lindy is your friend

Edited 6 hours ago by Cityo'Rasmii

[Standing Room Smoking Cigs]

8 minutes ago, Cityo'Rasmii said:

So, can Jarmo navigate Howdy Doody and our owner? 

TBD... Although while I respect the owner, I fear free agent day when  Adams is caught off guard in Chautauqua Lake, thinking "It's a holiday Give me another Zima." 4/5 months later palm trees excuses arise again.... 

 

Edited 6 hours ago by Standing Room Smoking Cigs
new wording

[Weave]

5 minutes ago, Standing Room Smoking Cigs said:

TBD... Although while I respect the owner, I fear free agent day when  Adams is caught off guard in Chautauqua Lake, thinking "It's a holiday Give me another Zima." 4/5 months later palm trees excuses arise again.... 

 

If I see KA At Chautauqua Lake on July 1 I am gonna kick his bippy all the way to the Thruway entrance in Westfield.

[SwampD]

I'd'ave a Zima.

[JohnC]

15 minutes ago, Weave said:

If I see KA At Chautauqua Lake on July 1 I am gonna kick his bippy all the way to the Thruway entrance in Westfield.

Leave this congenial fellow alone. He’s under a lot of stress. He knows the Sabrespace combatants are in hot pursuit and want to string him up. 🙂

[Standing Room Smoking Cigs]

19 minutes ago, Weave said:

If I see KA At Chautauqua Lake on July 1 I am gonna kick his bippy all the way to the Thruway entrance in Westfield.

Make sure it's a soft kick, upper management doesn't want Kevyn's heine hurt 

[Weave]

9 minutes ago, JohnC said:

Leave this congenial fellow alone. He’s under a lot of stress. He knows the Sabrespace combatants are in hot pursuit and want to string him up. 🙂

Ok Mrs. Adams, put the wine bottle down.

[thewookie1]

On 6/4/2025 at 9:55 PM, Pimlach said:

The source of his departure was the trade of Ryan Miller.  LaFontaine wanted to keep Miller to help them through the tank/rebuild.  Which would have been smart to keep a few guys that cared on the team.  

That was definitely a part of it

There were also disagreements on how much ownership had access to the players. A specific example was from a Sabres team visit to the Pegula music label venue in Nashville the night prior to an 8pm game. Kim pulled the wife of owner card on Lafontaine who refused to let the players go. (Quite honestly from what I know of this story, the Pegulas weren’t in the wrong in this instance; however it may have soured them on Presidents of Hockey Ops)

Apparently LaFontaine did have some, likely CTE caused, issues which caused further friction with Kim Pegula. Particularly in terms of interpersonal interactions between the two in regards to non-direct hockey related matters. 

Tim Murray would later sink his own ship in part thanks to his own personal interactions with Kim. She was seen as a Black Widow to some but was respected by others. 

Terry has looked at the Sabres franchise as a privileged fan. He hired Lafontaine based on a dinner with one of his favorite players. Like us, he wants the whole behind the scenes experience and all but demands it outright. How many here, given the option, wouldn’t want to be in on all the going’s and comings of the team while also not having any particular job responsibilities? Like many fans however he’s lost some interest in the Sabres “toy” and doesn’t quite grasp how he is part of the problem with the team. 

[shrader]

2 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Sabres Live is still state radio so it's understandable.

I’m constantly amazed that people don’t understand this.