Sabres announce Jarmo Kekalainen Hired as Senior Advisor

[PerreaultForever]

5 hours ago, JohnC said:

I want to keep JJP and have often stated so. But from a stylistic standpoint they are very different. Zucker plays a more rugged and physical game. Zucker is also a much more responsible two-way player than JJP. He is also arguably our best player at the net. JJP is a faster  north/south skater with a better shot. From an offensive standpoint JJP is more potent.

These players have different skill sets and both are needed.

I think you're missing some perspective on this. Zucker isn't really more rugged, he just comes from playing on different teams and he's only "rugged" relative to the softness of how the Sabres play. JJP has shown moments that tells me he'd be more rugged in a different system and coached differently. Consider E-Rod in Florida for example (I'm not comparing E-Rod to JJP skill wise, just how they played here how they play there). Zucker has also played for different teams and as a veteran he has been taught more defense so it's natural to him. Sabres haven't taught it to Peterka so what do you expect? Every young kid in the league wants to play offense and score goals. Defense is hard and boring. 

By the time Peterka is Zucker's age he will be a far better player and he will be just as rugged and defensive. Unless he stays a Sabre, then who knows. 

[JohnC]

44 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

I think you're missing some perspective on this. Zucker isn't really more rugged, he just comes from playing on different teams and he's only "rugged" relative to the softness of how the Sabres play. JJP has shown moments that tells me he'd be more rugged in a different system and coached differently. Consider E-Rod in Florida for example (I'm not comparing E-Rod to JJP skill wise, just how they played here how they play there). Zucker has also played for different teams and as a veteran he has been taught more defense so it's natural to him. Sabres haven't taught it to Peterka so what do you expect? Every young kid in the league wants to play offense and score goals. Defense is hard and boring. 

By the time Peterka is Zucker's age he will be a far better player and he will be just as rugged and defensive. Unless he stays a Sabre, then who knows. 

I’m not saying that JJP won’t be a better player than Zucker. But as a player he will never be as rugged a player as Zucher is. Just simply two different styles of play. 

[PerreaultForever]

2 hours ago, JohnC said:

I’m not saying that JJP won’t be a better player than Zucker. But as a player he will never be as rugged a player as Zucher is. Just simply two different styles of play. 

You can't say that. Look at Sam Bennett. He did not come into the league as a brawny thug and now he's the dirtiest nastiest player in the league. Peterka is still really young. We forget that in Buffalo because Adams keeps building the all youth brigade. A lot of players change as they mature and develop. Peterka is not a finished project . 

(I'm not saying he turns into Sam Bennett if you read this wrong, just that Jason Zucker isn't rugged and definitely wasn't rugged when he started out)

[irregularly irregular]

12 hours ago, Mr. Allen said:

Where would he go?  And why?

Good questions. Maybe back to waiting for an opportunity and the why could only be that the dysfunction of the Sabres front office is beyond his ability to endure the pain.  The question I posed was mostly tongue in cheek, but it seems to have gotten some interest in the very remote possibility.

11 hours ago, inkman said:

This seems a little out of left field.  What makes you think it’s a real possibility? 

Remote, very remote, possibility.

[irregularly irregular]

11 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

The desire for chaos in the absence of any actual news.

That's a little too obscure for Vegas books. But I'll take that action. What are you betting? Even money that Jarmo Kekalainen is still with the Sabres on July 6 (edit: 2025}? 💸💸💸💸💸

Not taking any bets on this. Besides Buffalonill still owes me from the last SabreSpace bet I got involved in. What happened to that guy anyhow?

[irregularly irregular]

11 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

The desire for chaos in the absence of any actual news.

 

Nope, not even close. In fact, I desire the opposite, as would everyone else that visits this site. I'd be really happy to see another couple decades of the Sabres I grew up with. Being a solid team year after year. Always making the playoffs and often getting to the 3rd round or maybe even the cup finals. Sell outs every game and a years long waiting list for season tickets. I suspect we are around the same age and have seen the same things since the 1970's and I know we all want it to be different because it has sucked for the last decade and a half. From my point of view it has really SUCKED for the past 5 years with KA at the helm. I gave him the benefit of the doubt early on, but no more. The last thing I desire to see is more of the mindless chaos that has buried this franchise over the past 15 years. 

[JohnC]

8 hours ago, PerreaultForever said:

You can't say that. Look at Sam Bennett. He did not come into the league as a brawny thug and now he's the dirtiest nastiest player in the league. Peterka is still really young. We forget that in Buffalo because Adams keeps building the all youth brigade. A lot of players change as they mature and develop. Peterka is not a finished project . 

(I'm not saying he turns into Sam Bennett if you read this wrong, just that Jason Zucker isn't rugged and definitely wasn't rugged when he started out)

JJP is a different type of player compared to Sam Bennett. There was an expectation in his draft evaluation that he was going to be a goal scorer. It didn't materialize in the NHL. That can be contrasted to JJP who already has shown an ability to score goals. I would love to have a Sam Bennett type player on this team. JJP is no Sam Bennett and will never be, and Sam Bennett will never be JJP goal producing player. Different players with different skill sets. 

[PromoTheRobot]

8 hours ago, irregularly irregular said:

Not taking any bets on this. Besides Buffalonill still owes me from the last SabreSpace bet I got involved in. What happened to that guy anyhow?

Witness protection.

[ponokasabre]

Hoping that maybe his connections could lead us to Gavrikov. He is one of the best defensive d men in the league and Jarmo was the GM and drafted him in Columbus 

 

Gavrikov - Dahlin would be best D pair in the nhl I think 

[Flashsabre]

7 minutes ago, ponokasabre said:

Hoping that maybe his connections could lead us to Gavrikov. He is one of the best defensive d men in the league and Jarmo was the GM and drafted him in Columbus 

 

Gavrikov - Dahlin would be best D pair in the nhl I think 

I would love Gavrikov to pair with Dahlin. Play them 30 minutes a night. 

[PerreaultForever]

5 hours ago, JohnC said:

JJP is a different type of player compared to Sam Bennett. There was an expectation in his draft evaluation that he was going to be a goal scorer. It didn't materialize in the NHL. That can be contrasted to JJP who already has shown an ability to score goals. I would love to have a Sam Bennett type player on this team. JJP is no Sam Bennett and will never be, and Sam Bennett will never be JJP goal producing player. Different players with different skill sets. 

Okay I put the line in brackets to avoid this but you didn't read it I guess. I was not saying Peterka would be Bennett. That would be dumb. What I'm saying is Sam Bennett was not Sam Bennett when he was drafted and he became something else. The final version of what JJ Peterka will be is still unknown, that's the point. 

[JohnC]

32 minutes ago, PerreaultForever said:

Okay I put the line in brackets to avoid this but you didn't read it I guess. I was not saying Peterka would be Bennett. That would be dumb. What I'm saying is Sam Bennett was not Sam Bennett when he was drafted and he became something else. The final version of what JJ Peterka will be is still unknown, that's the point. 

I admire Bennett as a player. It took a little time for him and teams to recognize his role and a how he best fits. Whether he scores a lot of goals or not his ferocity is what defines him as a player, and adds value to a team. I would love to have a Bennett type player to this languid team.

[LGR4GM]

Jarmo will not be relocating to Buffalo but will work primarily from Columbus according to Kevyn Adams 

[Rasmus_]

4 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Jarmo will not be relocating to Buffalo but will work primarily from Columbus according to Kevyn Adams 

That is so idiotic.

[tom webster]

3 minutes ago, Rasmus_ said:

That is so idiotic.

Why? There is no real reason he has to be here.

[dudacek]

3 minutes ago, tom webster said:

Why? There is no real reason he has to be here.

If his job is primarily to watch hockey players and talk to hockey people from around the world, I can't see how it matters at all where his base is.

But I believe the correct answer is 'because the Sabres suck and all moves need to be judged through that lens.'

[ponokasabre]

1 minute ago, dudacek said:

If his job is primarily to watch hockey players and talk to hockey people from around the world, I can't see how it matters at all where his base is.

But I believe the correct answer is 'because the Sabres suck and all moves need to be judged through that lens.'

Ya i mean i certainly dont have too much of an issue with him working remotely, i do wish he was here so that he could be involved in anything that happens at the drop of a hat and could advise on the fly vs phone meetings and such

[LGR4GM]

I'd guess Jarmo will be here this week but no reporter thought to ask that. 

[irregularly irregular]

18 minutes ago, tom webster said:

Why? There is no real reason he has to be here.

No doubt for the better, otherwise he would likely be smacking KA up side of his noggin several times a day. 

[French Collection]

Just now, LGR4GM said:

Jarmo will not be relocating to Buffalo but will work primarily from Columbus according to Kevyn Adams 

EEE.

TP wouldn’t pay for moving costs.

Jarmo is probably holding off until he gets a real job.

[Thorny]

39 minutes ago, tom webster said:

Why? There is no real reason he has to be here.

Would be cool if he wanted to, tho.

i mean, that’s our entire mission statement 

32 minutes ago, dudacek said:

If his job is primarily to watch hockey players and talk to hockey people from around the world, I can't see how it matters at all where his base is.

But I believe the correct answer is 'because the Sabres suck and all moves need to be judged through that lens.'

Unironically true 

Edited 4 hours ago by Thorny

[dudacek]

23 minutes ago, Thorny said:

 

Unironically true 

Yep.

[MISabresFan]

Internet mentioned Jarmo is removing himself from the Sabres.  

Apparently, he had a meeting with KA.  K.A. cancelled, said he had something important to do to prepare for the Draft and Free Agency.

Jarmo was curious and went to his office anyway.  KA was watching Charlie Brown cartoons.

[Ogelthorpe]

3 hours ago, LGR4GM said:

Jarmo will not be relocating to Buffalo but will work primarily from Columbus according to Kevyn Adams 

Not towards you but this bs hire!

[DarthEbriate]

3 hours ago, French Collection said:

EEE.

TP wouldn’t pay for moving costs.

Jarmo is probably holding off until he gets a real job.

This is the correct answer.