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

[Nacho Libre]

59 minutes ago, Derrico said:

You think so?  In the Atlantic / East?

People theorized it for years, it seems so shocking cause “why us”, but finally those people were just right: you eventually will hit critical mass if you are bad enough for an eternity and picking high year after year after year. Even after taking a completely unnecessary step backwards for 3 years in 2023, we still got there. It wasn’t the cohesive design of any GM, it just was always inevitably going to get to the point we just accumulated a critical mass of talent: literally can’t be bad forever.

we have a solid amount of assets now. I do think it’s at the point we can make the playoffs while…let’s say, not fully capitalizing on the opportunity our positioning currently is allowing for 

Used to need a million things to go right to make it, I don’t think that’s the case anymore. That’s not to say we aren’t squandering an opportunity, I don’t know. I do know we haven’t done anything stupid 

Edited July 2 by Nacho Libre

[krakensabr56390]

WGR‘s job is to create fake outrage so that they can add people listen to the radio and vent… And also they’re super dense -they took the most literal interpretation of what the GM said, without looking at any of that context of what he was saying. It’s so obvious he’s just saying they were not gonna overpay for people via a trade or money or just sign people that weren’t fit for the team for the sake of doing it… You know the same thing that every gm that hasn’t signed a bad contract has said so far!

 

Besides re-signing their players, what has Montreal done!

[tom webster]

1 hour 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.

 

Tough sell to who? Who moved that Buffalo would want ? Helleybuck said yes? 

Also, other then Florida, and maybe Washington, who in the East got a lot better?

[GoPuckYourself]

46 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

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

So how is that the same as "You have to face the cold hard fact that most NHL players don't want to be in Buffalo."?

Edited July 2 by GoPuckYourself

[Andrew Amerk]

Sabres will be fine. Jarmo is still in the kitchen. Trust the process. 
 

Don’t get the Lucic signing but that’s a different topic. 

[BillsShredder83]

3 hours ago, HumanSlinky39 said:

Glad we didn't overpay for anybody, this was probably the worst FA crop I've ever seen. The cream of the crop were depth middle-six guys at the very best and mediocre defensemen.

So, unless a trade is made, hope is our strategy I guess. Jarmo has never been afraid of making in-season moves, so I guess there's also that.

We have quite a bit of cap room don't we? And you cant really manipulate the cap to have someone take a big hit year 1, and cheaper the rest , can you?

Whats the plan with extra cap? In season moves I guess, but I kinda hate relying on that.. plus telegraphing your move with the cap room. Thats leverage the other way.

Add in the fact that in-season trades tend to cost more, leaves me a bit mehhh.

Major concerns about Norris health, and potentially centering a top line... with that injury history is just.... woof

Ive been patient but disappointment setting in

[pi2000]

I liked his presser, agree with what he had to say.

One thing about him is he plays it close to the vest.   He doesn't show his hand.

That helps in trade negotiations.

[inkman]

31 minutes ago, Andrew Amerk said:

Sabres will be fine. Jarmo is still in the kitchen. Trust the process. 
 

Don’t get the Lucic signing but that’s a different topic. 

[PromoTheRobot]

1 hour ago, GoPuckYourself said:

So how is that the same as "You have to face the cold hard fact that most NHL players don't want to be in Buffalo."?

Some people don't pick up sarcasm. Don't feel bad.

Edited July 2 by PromoTheRobot

[PASabreFan]

"We're open for business" is the sign they put out just before they shutter the doors.

[GoPuckYourself]

1 hour ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Some people don't pick up sarcasm. Don't feel bad.

Yeah I didn't pick up on it my bad.

[transient]

12 hours ago, Taro T said:

The good thing is on a prorated basis, they had 10 points they could lose from last year's team and still make the playoffs.  Right now it looks like they've lost almost exactly that many.  But there's still opportunities to be had to bring this a few extra standings points.

And that was with an abysmal start to the season. They don’t have to play at a 0.700+ pace if they don’t fall on their faces out of the gate. 

[JohnC]

13 hours ago, inkman said:

Yeah the non answer for the Lucic hiring doesn’t sit well with me at all. Jarmo has taken a big hit for this in my book. I’m not going to forgive or forget. You just can’t make that hire. How many hundreds if not thousands of qualified individuals were also available? Just a despicable hire. 

Why can’t Jarmo make the hire? The issue is simple: Is he a good scout and will he be an asset to the organization? If the answer is yes, then it is a good hire. How he played as a player is irrelevant. The relevant qualifications relates to his ability to assess talent. 

[inkman]

53 minutes ago, JohnC said:

Why can’t Jarmo make the hire? The issue is simple: Is he a good scout and will he be an asset to the organization? If the answer is yes, then it is a good hire. How he played as a player is irrelevant. The relevant qualifications relates to his ability to assess talent. 

I don’t care if he’s the most qualified (he almost certainly isn’t). Jarmo could have hired anyone in the world for the job. He picks the biggest Sabres villain in history. It just smacks of what plagued this franchise for decades, making moves to spite your fanbase. I’m sure Jarmo had no idea we were gonna string him up for this. But he should have. Do your homework.  He says they did their due diligence when hiring Lucic. Did they? Domestic abuser that every single Sabres fan loathed more than any player in NHL history? Seems like Jarmo actually did no homework. 

[JustOneParade]

Somehow overlooked in Jarmo’ presser: the entire coaching staff is returning with new contracts. (Per Fairburn at The Athletic).

[Taro T]

24 minutes ago, JustOneParade said:

Somehow overlooked in Jarmo’ presser: the entire coaching staff is returning with new contracts. (Per Fairburn at The Athletic).

Kekalainen did mention that in the presser.  But it was a single sentence in the entire 11 or so minutes.  No elaboration on it.

[GoPuckYourself]

44 minutes ago, inkman said:

I don’t care if he’s the most qualified (he almost certainly isn’t). Jarmo could have hired anyone in the world for the job. He picks the biggest Sabres villain in history. It just smacks of what plagued this franchise for decades, making moves to spite your fanbase. I’m sure Jarmo had no idea we were gonna string him up for this. But he should have. Do your homework.  He says they did their due diligence when hiring Lucic. Did they? Domestic abuser that every single Sabres fan loathed more than any player in NHL history? Seems like Jarmo actually did no homework. 

I couldn't agree with this statement more.

I have a saying pretty much in life since I was a teenager I'd say "You are who you surround yourself with." and this saying goes for pretty much anyone. Why would you give a known wife beating, alcoholic, who was pretty much the downfall of your glory days for the Sabres back then a 2nd chance? You did your due dilgence and still said this was the best idea for the organization? There is no way he's the best candidate for the job. I lost alot of respect for Jarmo on this one no doubt, People can say whatever they want about the hire, I find it disgusting. 

[dudacek]

Did anyone else get the impression Jarmo just got off the phone after listening to 10 minutes of Cheveldayoff saying “Östlund or Helenius or no deal”?

Pity the guy he met on the pickleball court last night.

[bunomatic]

12 minutes ago, dudacek said:

Did anyone else get the impression Jarmo just got off the phone after listening to 10 minutes of Cheveldayoff saying “Östlund or Helenius or no deal”?

Pity the guy he met on the pickleball court last night.

Or Benson apparently…

[JohnC]

2 hours ago, inkman said:

I don’t care if he’s the most qualified (he almost certainly isn’t). Jarmo could have hired anyone in the world for the job. He picks the biggest Sabres villain in history. It just smacks of what plagued this franchise for decades, making moves to spite your fanbase. I’m sure Jarmo had no idea we were gonna string him up for this. But he should have. Do your homework.  He says they did their due diligence when hiring Lucic. Did they? Domestic abuser that every single Sabres fan loathed more than any player in NHL history? Seems like Jarmo actually did no homework. 

How do you know that he didn’t check his background?

[Taro T]

3 hours ago, dudacek said:

Did anyone else get the impression Jarmo just got off the phone after listening to 10 minutes of Cheveldayoff saying “Östlund or Helenius or no deal”?

Pity the guy he met on the pickleball court last night.

It definitely did have a tone of "we've given the best offer we're going to make and it hasn't been enough to date" to it.

[inkman]

2 hours ago, JohnC said:

How do you know that he didn’t check his background?

Regardless if he did or not, he brushed past it with little explanation in the press conference. If you are bringing in a class A scumbag, at least have a story prepared for why you did so. 
 

Jarmo has no idea the powder keg he lit with this hire.  It’s just a matter of time before the fuse expires.  

[Flashsabre]

15 minutes ago, inkman said:

Regardless if he did or not, he brushed past it with little explanation in the press conference. If you are bringing in a class A scumbag, at least have a story prepared for why you did so. 
 

Jarmo has no idea the powder keg he lit with this hire.  It’s just a matter of time before the fuse expires.  

Huh, the guy will be a pro scout based out of the west coast. He will be an afterthought.

[Doohickie]

15 hours ago, pi2000 said:

I liked his presser, agree with what he had to say.

One thing about him is he plays it close to the vest.   He doesn't show his hand.

That helps in trade negotiations.

That was the sense I got.

I read that Chevy over in Winnipeg also had a press conference scheduled for yesterday but pushed it off to tomorrow.  I suspect the Helly trade is nearly done but not quite there yet and Cheveldayoff and Kekäläinen scheduled pressers to announce it.  Jarmo went ahead and did his, Chevy pushed it off in anticipation of the trade being completed by tomorrow.

From what has been said elsewhere on Sabrespace, I think if the Helly trade goes through, the Sabres will also sign Patrick Kane.  They might sign him anyway, but moving Quinn or another forward in the trade makes a spot for Kane.

Edited July 2 by Doohickie

[Doohickie]

6 hours ago, JohnC said:

Why can’t Jarmo make the hire? The issue is simple: Is he a good scout and will he be an asset to the organization? If the answer is yes, then it is a good hire. How he played as a player is irrelevant. The relevant qualifications relates to his ability to assess talent. 

I think the bigger issue most people have is the domestic violence thing.