Sabres announce Jarmo Kekalainen Hired as Senior Advisor

[Brawndo]

 

[LGR4GM]

1 minute ago, Brawndo said:

 

 

 

[darksabre]

I, too, would have picked Buffalo over the Island. 

[shrader]

17 minutes ago, Thorny said:

Chad also theorized last summer Adams could he “bumped up” to president or whatever with his successor as GM brought in to learn the ropes, so if that wasn’t a total guess, could be the plan now

tbh I wouldn’t be shocked shocked if Adams is moved up before the season starts 

If that was the plan, why not just do it now? The only answer I can think of is that they need to hire Jarmo quickly before he gets away. But still, if that’s the case, just make the changes right now. 
 

Edit: And I just now saw Brawndo’s post from Harrington. That could potentially answer my question. 

Edited Friday at 03:43 PM by shrader

[That Aud Smell]

1 minute ago, LGR4GM said:

 

 

just for the lulz

 

 

[Thorny]

Just now, shrader said:

If that was the plan, why not just do it now? The only answer I can think of is that they need to hire Jarmo quickly before he gets away. But still, if that’s the case, just make the changes right now. 

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 

[French Collection]

Just now, 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’ll add “the best way to deal with this guy is to talk about getting him cap space”. “that guy just loves his WHL prospects”. “ that guy was pissed when you got Byram”.

 

[Pimlach]

30 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

In the event that someday a couple years from now, Jarmo is Sabres GM, and they make the playoffs -- and either Terry or a sportswriter or tv talking head or a Sabrespace poster gives credit to Adams for the roster he assembled that Jarmo is just the benefactor of...  we all agree now to immediately shoot them down.

Adams went after some very good players according to past media rumors, but closing on the deal is not a strength for him.  Maybe Jarmo can help with that? 

Senior Advisor is a foot in the door but he is not an AGM yet.   Still, I suspect that Jarmo will help re-shape the roster and that Ruff will be telling him what he wants and needs.    

Edited Friday at 03:57 PM by Pimlach

[Taro T]

23 minutes ago, Thorny said:

I’ll tune out for now then thanks 

for the honesty

You responded while the post was being editied.  IF they make the playoffs, yes, there is a chance that they go back to what seemed to be the original plan of bumping Adams up to PoHO after the past season's successful playoff run.   So, yeah, it MIGHT happen, should they make the playoffs that Adams goes up, Kekalainen becomes the GM, and who knows how Karmanos and Ventura react to that move when their contracts are up.

[SabreFinn]

Interesting.

Thinking we might have a balanced D next season. And our first round pick this year is as good as gone. Kekäläinen is not running back something that isn't working, that's for sure.

[That Aud Smell]

Just now, SabreFinn said:

Interesting.

Thinking we might have a balanced D next season. And our first round pick this year is as good as gone. Kekäläinen is not running back something that isn't working, that's for sure.

NICE!

[SabreFinn]

4 minutes ago, Pimlach said:

Adams went after some very good players according to past media rumors, but closing on the deal is not a strength for him.  Maybe Jarmo can help with that? 

Senior Advisor is a foot in the door but he is not an AGM yet.   Still, I suspect that Jarmo will help re-shape the roster and that Ruff will be telling him what he wants and needs.    

I think this is spot on. We might be overpaying, but the chances to get what we want and need with Kekäläinen involved are increasing.

[Thorny]

36 minutes ago, Taro T said:

EDIT: Actually, thinking a bit more on it, maybe this is the precursor to giving Adams that bump up to PoHO that we expected should they have not screwed the pooch last year PROVIDED they do make the playoffs.  Maybe?

“If you want out of the hot seat where everyone hates you, bring in a guy who will do it better and you’ll get cushy job” 

[Flashsabre]

Kevyn: “Jarmo, if say one wanted to hypothetically acquire a top 4 RHD and a starting goalie how would one hypothetically go about that?”😁

[DarthEbriate]

With capfriendly and its predecessor (I've forgotten the name now) gone... is there a convenient way to compile the Columbus cap hits during Kekäläinen's time? I'm seeming to remember they were always under similar Pegulas internal restraints.

[Thorny]

 

[French Collection]

Just now, Taro T said:

You responded while the post was being editied.  IF they make the playoffs, yes, there is a chance that they go back to what seemed to be the original plan of bumping Adams up to PoHO after the past season's successful playoff run.   So, yeah, it MIGHT happen, should they make the playoffs that Adams goes up, Kekalainen becomes the GM, and who knows how Karmanos and Ventura react to that move when their contracts are up.

Playoffs! Five year extensions all around!

[DarthEbriate]

One thing of note, he was never afraid to move a 1st round pick, and he was connected enough to be involved in 3-team trades:

https://www.nhltradetracker.com/user/trade_list_by_GM/Jarmo_Kekalainen/135/1   

[ponokasabre]

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?

[Mango]

1 hour ago, Drag0nDan said:

He did get Gaudreau to sign in 2022 which was the top dog that year.  I liked his comments on the signing as well.  

Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen expressed the hope that with the signing "we can finally get rid of the bullsh*t that this is somehow a bad destination, a bad city, whatever. Because it's never been true."

 

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.

[Carmel Corn]

I am pleasantly surprised for a change.  I now wonder if there is any chance we may have an Elvis sighting in goal next season?

Edited Friday at 04:38 PM by Carmel Corn

[Rasmus_]

1 minute ago, Carmel Corn said:

I am pleasantly surprised for a change.  I now wonder if there is any chance we may an Elvis sighting in goal next season?

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. 

[Mango]

1 hour ago, Mr Peabody said:

Did KA hire his successor for an eventual transition to P0HO?  I thought the advisor to GM was merely a rumor but obviously not.  If the former,  this makes sense to ensure a smooth transition and prevents a ‘new guy’ from playing cowboy and blowing everything up. 

This keeps coming up but I forking hate it with all my heart. This is no more serious of an org with Adams as Pres as it is with him as GM.

Adams total lack of vision and direction is the reason he's sucked during his entire tenure here. And people seem cool with promoting him to a roll that is almost entirely...checks notes....vision and direction....

Adams as President is a miserable decision for the franchise. He's a Terry enabler. Look at the Bills, part of the reason they work is that it's McD and Beane vs Pegula.

Now do that with Adams as POHO. It's Terry and Adams vs Jarmo. There are now two Pegulas outvoting real life front office people.

I think it was @Thorny who made reference to the 70's Steelers turning the corner. But it turned out Art Sr. just handed the keys to Dan Rooney.

If promoting Adams to POHO is seen as a real life fix for this org, we are better off just rooting for Pegulas retirement and one of the kids taking over.

[Mango]

54 minutes ago, shrader said:

If that was the plan, why not just do it now? The only answer I can think of is that they need to hire Jarmo quickly before he gets away. But still, if that’s the case, just make the changes right now. 
 

Edit: And I just now saw Brawndo’s post from Harrington. That could potentially answer my question. 

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.

 

[DarthEbriate]

9 minutes ago, ponokasabre said:

Any Jarmo favorites around the league we may look at?

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.