GM Jarmo Kekalainen Post Free Agency Press Conference 7/1/2026

[COSabreFan]

Just now, Flashsabre said:

Terrible take. Who were the top guys today that Jarmo missed out on?

That statement wasn’t just about today, obviously.  It’s both teams, both GMs over a long period of time.  It’s the Stockholm Syndrome this city has for its teams.

[GoPuckYourself]

My hope always with the young guys is that they play so well they make a roster player expendable. Back when Drury and Briere bailed we just gave those spots to the kids. I'm not saying it's happening now since we can still do something before the season starts and we can still sign/trade for a player or 2 yet but i really hope we don't just hand spots to Östlund/Helenius, they played well when they came into the lineup but not so much so that I felt it made Tuch or Quinn expendable by their play imo.

[PromoTheRobot]

11 minutes ago, COSabreFan said:

That statement wasn’t just about today, obviously.  It’s both teams, both GMs over a long period of time.  It’s the Stockholm Syndrome this city has for its teams.

You have to face the cold hard fact that most NHL players don't want to be in Buffalo. Even with a good Buffalo team. It's always going to be that way. We have to develop our own guys to be competitive.

[Gatorman0519]

Looks like this is the team for 2026-27 outside of maybe a few minor tweaks. 

[Weave]

I’m hopeful tomorrow nets a difference maker.

Don’t make me lose hope, Jarmo.

[TageMVP]

Just now, Gatorman0519 said:

Looks like this is the team for 2026-27 outside of maybe a few minor tweaks. 

Not NEARLY good enough then 

Jarmo blew it not getting Robert Thomas at the deadline 

A lot of other teams got better in our division already. This is not good at all. Something needs to happen, not necessarily blockbuster esque, but something significant. You can't lose Tuch and Byram and think okay, Zellweger is enough. No way 

[Sidc3000]

9 minutes ago, Gatorman0519 said:

Looks like this is the team for 2026-27 outside of maybe a few minor tweaks. 

Yep

[oddoublee]

10 minutes ago, TageMVP said:

Not NEARLY good enough then 

Jarmo blew it not getting Robert Thomas at the deadline 

A lot of other teams got better in our division already. This is not good at all. Something needs to happen, not necessarily blockbuster esque, but something significant. You can't lose Tuch and Byram and think okay, Zellweger is enough. No way 

This is 100 f'ing correct

[_Q_]

You all are going to be eating crow when we loaded up the cupboards for a run at McDavid at the deadline!

[Shoot da Puck]

I have this empty feeling inside. 

[LGR4GM]

If the Sabres had traded Byram, signed Benson, and gotten Zellweger today, y'all would be so happy. 

[#freejame]

4 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

If the Sabres had traded Byram, signed Benson, and gotten Zellweger today, y'all would be so happy. 

Not only that but basically every name that we have been linked to is still available 

[Mango]

1 hour ago, Mr Peabody said:

Not sure why this PC was held unless it was previously scheduled with potential news to share.  He didn’t look his normal upbeat self so wonder if an expected deal fell through?  We don’t need home runs but we do need something to keep pace in the east.  

Dude looked beat up and exhausted.

I'm sure it's frustrating.

- The team gets over the hump.
- Prove to be top 5.
- Got the kiddos extended on great deals.
-Sure he lost Tuch and Byram but looking at the numbers that wasn't possible.

The dude probably felt like the entire org was on a clear path for upward mobility and the offseason would have minimal friction. But it turns out the Sabres are still a tough sell.

 

[Derrico]

57 minutes ago, Nacho Libre said:

Ya I think things looks fine. It’s a little underwhelming truth be told, if this is what we end up entering the season with more less. Especially with Jarmo at the helm. But it’s not horrid and there’s still time to add 

I’m kinda still really hoping on Helle. But if this is it this is it. Playoffs still a good possibility. We can still be a playoff team with a disappointing offseason 

You think so?  In the Atlantic / East?

[PerreaultForever]

Unless Helleybuck is now going to Edmonton (since they moved out the Nurse money) where else can he go? "Open for business" so let's get something done. 

[Freeezo]

1 hour ago, Crusader1969 said:

Looks like the Sabres have taken a step backwards up to this point in the offseason 

Still think this is a playoff team but not a 109 point division winner   im ok with this, we get a year to see the young players step up and see what they can do  

Maybe the Helle trade still happens but hopefully the Jets price comes down   I still think a top 10 protected 1st, Mrtka and a goalie is a steep price to pay and should be max offer.   I'm hesitant to add a roster forward to the package as they don't have the depth that they had last season    
 

Mayne they add Kane tomorrow and that allows them to trade Quinn?  
 

 

 

 

 

I still think we're under valuing Östlund. Incredible player.

[PASabreFan]

A presser? For what?

[GoPuckYourself]

8 minutes ago, Mango said:

Dude looked beat up and exhausted.

I'm sure it's frustrating.

- The team gets over the hump.
- Prove to be top 5.
- Got the kiddos extended on great deals.
-Sure he lost Tuch and Byram but looking at the numbers that wasn't possible.

The dude probably felt like the entire org was on a clear path for upward mobility and the offseason would have minimal friction. But it turns out the Sabres are still a tough sell.

 

Didn't Hellebuyck add us to his short list of teams he'd be traded to? Are you just speculating that a player or players refused to sign here? I don't really understand this post. 

Edited July 2 by GoPuckYourself

[Mango]

15 minutes ago, GoPuckYourself said:

Didn't Hellebuyck add us to his short list of teams he'd be traded to? Are you just speculating that a player or players refused to sign here? I don't really understand this post. 

Ultimately he didn't get anything done.

[PromoTheRobot]

17 minutes ago, GoPuckYourself said:

Didn't Hellebuyck add us to his short list of teams he'd be traded to? Are you just speculating that a player or players refused to sign here? I don't really understand this post. 

He saw what Cheveldayoff was asking and said that team will blow if trade for me.

[Taro T]

32 minutes ago, LGR4GM said:

If the Sabres had traded Byram, signed Benson, and gotten Zellweger today, y'all would be so happy. 

What would they have been trading Byram for today?  Rudolph, whatever player ended up going 45OA that was selected by Anaheim, and Crevier?  Or was there some other deal that you are proposing would've happened?

Are you expecting the Zellweger trade would still be there today?  That one included that 45OA pick.  How does that happen today?

Maybe people would be happy, but it's not likely because the Sabres would've lost Tuch nearly a week ago, the Sabres would only have come out of the draft with Morozov and guys picked later than 4th round.

There'd still be the same presumed need to upgrade in net.

 

Oh, they signed Benson.  Cool.  They got rid of Greenway.  Cool. 

But they lost Byram and have now replaced him and Kesselring with 2 younger D; 1 who has a good pedigree and 1 who had a great season that nobody here knows boo about.

 

No offense, but not seeing people getting ready to throw a parade today.  (And they likely would've been quite displeased this weekend, as well.)

[irregularly irregular]

1 hour ago, COSabreFan said:

That statement wasn’t just about today, obviously.  It’s both teams, both GMs over a long period of time.  It’s the Stockholm Syndrome this city has for its teams.

Not sure it's Stockholm Syndrome, but there is certainly something that drives the fanatics to the bridges and ledges for any reason at all.

It's only July 1st. The season doesn't start for another 3+ months. Still plenty of time for Helly trade to get worked out. Also time for the McDavid trade to get worked out as well. 

[Night Train]

1 hour ago, Flashsabre said:

Terrible take. Who were the top guys today that Jarmo missed out on?

Luke Schenn. There was 20 of his ilk. 

[Scottysabres]

I believe many of you who had hopes of big additions have not fully recognized some key aspects to what is here in Buffalo.

First, every young gun on this team was a part of the amazing run this past season, including Helenius to a lesser time extent but looked every bit a piece of that run.

Second, those young’ns are going to improve this season. It will be phenomenal watching them, and yes, you should all have full faith they will show up and pummel opponents, because they will.

And Third, yea we lost Tuch and Byram, we should all have every confidence we will get the pieces we need to back fill on top of the young’ns improvement. I’m talking trades, the off season is young, try and be positive about it, we have a GM who’s shown the ability in the past to make some deals. I realize it’s easy to criticize the ones rumored and not done, how’s about a little Buffalo blue collar spine and have confidence he can do the job. Because he can.

[krakensabr56390]

To echo the lots of others here, who is the player that we had to have that got signed or traded today? Trocheck? I didn’t want to touch that guy with a 10 foot pole… We still have all of our high-end prospects, all the future pics, including extra ones, and a couple of guys that we could sign like Kane or Giroux are still out there… Our defense is already fixed and to be honest will probably be better than next year. Additionally, we still have the goalie option out there as he wasn’t traded and all of the good trade fwd pieces are still there.

 

That press conference was done probably as a scheduled thing in free agency day to recap anything that got done - also it put the message out there that we’re not going to be pushed to trade or sign people for overvalue

there was all the poker face public message conference not meant for giving us actual information, but to put a face out there for other teams to say we’re not gonna get pushed around or to agents that if they want to be a part of this, we’re not going to overpay.