Sabres announce Jarmo Kekalainen Hired as Senior Advisor

[Thorny]

2 hours ago, nfreeman said:

Interesting, and very plausible.  Not sure that JK would perish in the Red Wedding, being an experienced and presumably leaguewide-respected GM who was very recently brought in -- I'd guess he'd probably just replace KA or, possibly with Lindy, advise TP on choosing a new GM.

Is it? I’m mostly just trying to make myself feel ok about it all 

But yes that’s what I’m hoping for - the jarmo is in essence already GM. He takes over and Adams gets bumped up or he takes over and Adams gets bumped down 

Edited yesterday at 05:13 AM by Thorny

[SwampD]

My only hope is that it works.

[_Q_]

10 hours ago, Thorny said:

Is it? I’m mostly just trying to make myself feel ok about it all 

But yes that’s what I’m hoping for - the jarmo is in essence already GM. He takes over and Adams gets bumped up or he takes over and Adams gets bumped down 

I have a really hard time believing he took the job as a subordinate, non decision making advisor to the sinking ship of Kevyn Adam’s.

That would be career suicide.  I think he will be promoted to GM before the season starts.

Any roster restructuring will be done on Adam’s watch as cover and clean slate for Jarmo.

[tom webster]

4 minutes ago, _Q_ said:

I have a really hard time believing he took the job as a subordinate, non decision making advisor to the sinking ship of Kevyn Adam’s.

That would be career suicide.  I think he will be promoted to GM before the season starts.

Any roster restructuring will be done on Adam’s watch as cover and clean slate for Jarmo.

There is no scenario where this is “career suicide.” As others have pointed out, it’s a no lose situation. If things work out, he’s the genius who saved a sinking ship. If they don’t, the narrative will be “he could only do so much with what he had to work with.”

Most people taking on new assignments prefer to take over an under-performing business or department as opposed to a thriving one and this is no different.

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, tom webster said:

There is no scenario where this is “career suicide.” As others have pointed out, it’s a no lose situation. If things work out, he’s the genius who saved a sinking ship. If they don’t, the narrative will be “he could only do so much with what he had to work with.”

Most people taking on new assignments prefer to take over an under-performing business or department as opposed to a thriving one and this is no different.

It would be interesting to know what the terms of agreement, even if only verbal, were with Keka and KA and with Keka and the owner. 

[Archie Lee]

54 minutes ago, tom webster said:

There is no scenario where this is “career suicide.” As others have pointed out, it’s a no lose situation. If things work out, he’s the genius who saved a sinking ship. If they don’t, the narrative will be “he could only do so much with what he had to work with.”

Most people taking on new assignments prefer to take over an under-performing business or department as opposed to a thriving one and this is no different.

“Career suicide” is a strong term. I think this is similar to the Ruff hire. Kekalainen, like Ruff, I think is well respected in the hockey community, but not necessarily highly regarded for his recent work. If things get worse here rather than better, it certainly isn’t going to help Kekalainan get a new GM job (well, maybe in Buffalo). 

It’s also similar to the Ruff hire in that, like last off-season with Ruff, you can expect that every perceived “good” move made by the Sabres this summer will be touted as having “Kekalainan’s influence all over it”. That is, as with Ruff, until those moves don’t work, in which case it will be all Adams’s fault and Kekalainan will get the “how could he have known it was this bad” pass. 
 

 

[Thorny]

3 hours ago, _Q_ said:

I have a really hard time believing he took the job as a subordinate, non decision making advisor to the sinking ship of Kevyn Adam’s.

That would be career suicide.  I think he will be promoted to GM before the season starts.

Any roster restructuring will be done on Adam’s watch as cover and clean slate for Jarmo.

That’s what I’m hoping for 

[PerreaultForever]

Now, can he get us an Olivier for a 4th round pick? 

[JohnC]

2 hours ago, Archie Lee said:

“Career suicide” is a strong term. I think this is similar to the Ruff hire. Kekalainen, like Ruff, I think is well respected in the hockey community, but not necessarily highly regarded for his recent work. If things get worse here rather than better, it certainly isn’t going to help Kekalainan get a new GM job (well, maybe in Buffalo). 

It’s also similar to the Ruff hire in that, like last off-season with Ruff, you can expect that every perceived “good” move made by the Sabres this summer will be touted as having “Kekalainan’s influence all over it”. That is, as with Ruff, until those moves don’t work, in which case it will be all Adams’s fault and Kekalainan will get the “how could he have known it was this bad” pass. 
 

 

Keka did what constantly moving people in the hockey profession do who are not currently working or working in a satisfactory (lower) position. They pursue and find their next best option. I have a different take on Keka and this new job, whatever his role is. The potential is that it places him in a good advancement situation, either with the Sabres or with another team. 

From what I have heard about him, he is very experienced in the hockey business from the scouting side to the executive side. So I'm sure that he won't be blindsided with unexpected situations within this troubled franchise. I'm confident that he knows what his role will be and that it won't be a detriment to whatever future aspirations he has within the business. 

I'm very much encouraged by his hiring, and to a lot lesser extent the Staal hiring, because it seems that the owner is more receptive to outside voices. The Sabre franchise has been plagued with a provincial operation. What these two hirings suggest to me that it is becoming more modern (normal) in how it will operate. At least I hope so.  

[nfreeman]

15 hours ago, Thorny said:

Is it? I’m mostly just trying to make myself feel ok about it all 

But yes that’s what I’m hoping for - the jarmo is in essence already GM. He takes over and Adams gets bumped up or he takes over and Adams gets bumped down 

 

4 hours ago, tom webster said:

There is no scenario where this is “career suicide.” As others have pointed out, it’s a no lose situation. If things work out, he’s the genius who saved a sinking ship. If they don’t, the narrative will be “he could only do so much with what he had to work with.”

Most people taking on new assignments prefer to take over an under-performing business or department as opposed to a thriving one and this is no different.

 

Upon some reflection, I think JK is likely to be the next GM, but it hasn't been promised to him and it won't be this summer.

I think TP wants to take a look at JK, see how things go this summer with JK a full participant and see how the season starts off.  If it's a poop show, KA is gone and TP can decide about JK at that point.  If it goes well and the team looks good, he can decide about both of them at that point.  No one is hiring either of them away in the meantime.

From JK's perspective, the 2024 and 2025 GM hiring seasons went by and he wasn't able to grab a spot.  So this keeps him in the NHL and in the on deck circle for a GM job that is reasonably likely to open up soon (and for a billionaire owner who hasn't done so lately but previously spent to the cap and showered the franchise with money).  That's a pretty good landing spot and probably the best one he could find.

 

[Thorny]

Too bad if it’s not this summer. You are probably right about that aspect though.

Just trying to see how this settles in, still, honestly. Can’t decide if I’m comfortable with it yet re: removing that conflict of viewing interest I have mentioned, personally.

It’s certainly a good move. Whether it’s satisfactory for me I’m still deciding  

[tom webster]

If there is a planned succession, it’s more likely to end up 

Jarmo. POHC

KA - President on the business side

Eric Staal - GM

[Thorny]

2 minutes ago, tom webster said:

If there is a planned succession, it’s more likely to end up 

Jarmo. POHC

KA - President on the business side

Eric Staal - GM

We have a chance to finally not hire a first time GM and we’d install a completely green Staal in the role? No chance

[tom webster]

3 minutes ago, Thorny said:

We have a chance to finally not hire a first time GM and we’d install a completely green Staal in the role? No chance

Jarmo would be the de facto GM Staals’ first couple years. People get wrapped up in titles. Teams do it all the time to keep assistants they want to keep, or like in St. Louis, to basically do on the job training.

[Thorny]

4 minutes ago, tom webster said:

Jarmo would be the de facto GM Staals’ first couple years. People get wrapped up in titles. Teams do it all the time to keep assistants they want to keep, or like in St. Louis, to basically do on the job training.

Ya I just don’t see Staal commanding the respect necessary or having near the experience required to be the voice in the room that would come along with “GM.” He’s a glorified intern trainee at this time. If there’s a succession plan, it’s Adams to POHO, Jarmo to GM 

But it’s the sabres. So who knows right lol 

[Thorny]

I’d also take Staal in the role over Adams tbf so either way I’m set if there’s a succession plan 

[DarthEbriate]

24 minutes ago, Thorny said:

We have a chance to finally not hire a first time GM and we’d install a completely green Staal in the role? No chance

Unless Darth Pegulas the Wise falls for him (Staal).

[Thorny]

7 minutes ago, DarthEbriate said:

Unless Darth Pegulas the Wise falls for him (Staal).

…one younger…and far more powerful..

You will not stop me. Darth Staal will become more powerful than either of us! 

Edited 20 hours ago by Thorny

[tom webster]

32 minutes ago, Thorny said:

Ya I just don’t see Staal commanding the respect necessary or having near the experience required to be the voice in the room that would come along with “GM.” He’s a glorified intern trainee at this time. If there’s a succession plan, it’s Adams to POHO, Jarmo to GM 

But it’s the sabres. So who knows right lol 

Staal is as highly regarded in league circles as Grier, Drury and Briere.

[shrader]

6 hours ago, Archie Lee said:

“Career suicide” is a strong term. I think this is similar to the Ruff hire. Kekalainen, like Ruff, I think is well respected in the hockey community, but not necessarily highly regarded for his recent work. If things get worse here rather than better, it certainly isn’t going to help Kekalainan get a new GM job (well, maybe in Buffalo). 

It’s also similar to the Ruff hire in that, like last off-season with Ruff, you can expect that every perceived “good” move made by the Sabres this summer will be touted as having “Kekalainan’s influence all over it”. That is, as with Ruff, until those moves don’t work, in which case it will be all Adams’s fault and Kekalainan will get the “how could he have known it was this bad” pass. 
 

 

Lindy is 65. Yeah, this is the end of the line for him. Jarmo still has some time left at 58. They can also go longer in that front office role than in coaching. 

[JohnC]

2 hours ago, tom webster said:

If there is a planned succession, it’s more likely to end up 

Jarmo. POHC

KA - President on the business side

Eric Staal - GM

Don't you think your advancement timetable for Staal's elevation is a little bit accelerated? 

[tom webster]

23 minutes ago, JohnC said:

Don't you think your advancement timetable for Staal's elevation is a little bit accelerated? 

Yes

[LGR4GM]

3 hours ago, tom webster said:

If there is a planned succession, it’s more likely to end up 

Jarmo. POHC

KA - President on the business side

Eric Staal - GM

Hell of a ***** thing to post on Pride. Staal sucks and I want him gone already. He's a whiny baby who mailed it in here. 

2 hours ago, tom webster said:

Staal is as highly regarded in league circles as Grier, Drury and Briere.

Drury isn't a good GM. Grier might be. Skeptical of Briere.

[Taro T]

14 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

Hell of a ***** thing to post on Pride. Staal sucks and I want him gone already. He's a whiny baby who mailed it in here. 

Drury isn't a good GM. Grier might be. Skeptical of Briere.

?????

[Dr. Who]

22 minutes ago, Taro T said:

?????

He's angry with Staal's behavior on a social issue several years ago -- Staal refused to wear a rainbow jersey while a member of the Panthers. I don't believe that has anything to do with his hockey acumen, which I do not know one way or the other.