Confirmed with Link: Jarmo Kekäläinen hired as Senior Advisor

[SundherDome]

Good, can everyone calm down a bit now?

 

[munkyhead8]

My take on this is similar to how I feel about what they're doing w/Appert. I think Terry really likes Kevin, and doesn't want to boot him from the org, but maybe doesn't think GM is the best fit. I can see a change as soon as next year for KA to fall up to Pres. and Jarmo taking over as GM. So instead of blowing it up w/a new staff they're transitioning resources.

 

[toddkaz]

I remember posting in March that Jarmo started following Buffalo media. Was told that means nothing.

Guess it meant something.

Probably the next Sabres GM when Buffalo misses the playoffs next year and Adam's contract expires.

 

[TehDoak]

What's the incentive for JK?

Is there a plan for him to take over GM and KA to become "president" where he still answers to him? I'm not sure why JK would do this?

Happy to have him though!

Its a chance to stay current on NHL players, markets, and see how another front office works.

He also probably realizes Kevyn isn't on the most sound footing in terms of job security.

Terry didn’t hire him or do the search. Adams did.

Terry was certainly part of both. C'mon now.

 

[TheBarnIsElectric]

Seems like a good move. They needed more experienced voices in the room and Jarmo brings that. Devils always in the details though, and we don't have access to the details, so we'll just have to wait and see how it turns out.

 

[Krieger Bot]

Hey - a move I like!

Reminds me a little bit of the Buddy Nix hire. A senior guy who's been around the league for a while who can hopefully help bring some respectability back to the org so we can start attracting talent again.

 

[Der Jaeger]

I think this move is the stepping stone for JK to be the GM and KA to move into the POHO position.

 

[LamaTabootTaboot]

You ever see the episode of the office where Micheal quits and they bring in Idris Elba to run the office and he's beside himself at how unprofessional and stupid everyone is?

I expect it to go a lot like that.

I wasn't part of the Office hysteria, not for any good reason other than I was busy. LoL

But I am 100% watching this episode for this reason.

 

[LamaTabootTaboot]

I think this move is the stepping stone for JK to be the GM and KA to move into the POHO position.

People keep saying this but that feels like one of the worst things that could happen to this org.

POHO is a vision position and Adams vision for this org has been terrible. The guy publicly listed reasons he thought were legitimate for players not to come to this org. Putting him at the top of the totem pole feels like a good reason to jump off a bridge.

 

[toddkaz]

My guess is they will take the year grooming(programming) Jarmo that Pegula is the real GM and learning the system here before he takes over as GM.

For Pegula and Adams not a bad way to go as it can sort of be a trial run.

 

[Chainshot]

Chris MacFarland (Avs) and Bill Zito (Panthers) used to work for him as AGMs. Interesting to note Bill Armstrong, current Utah GM, also used to work with Jarmo back in St. Louis (Armstrong was a Blues' scout at the time. He immediately has some more connections.

 

[Sabre the Win]

Good, can everyone calm down a bit now?

Doesn't matter the hire, even if it was Lou, this franchise can't go any lower then they are now.

 

[Zman5778]

this franchise can't go any lower then they are now.

Oh you sweet summer child...........

There's always lower. Always.

 

[SharkInABoloTie]

There goes the hopes for Rick Dudley, me thinks

 

[jc17]

The big questions remain.

What will Kekalainen's role be and what will he be tasked with?

Is he going to live and work here full time? Or is he just on the hotline to weigh-in if Adams needs him, collecting a paycheck, and waiting for a better opportunity?

Is kekalainen purely an Adams underling? Or does he have more teeth and he will communicate with ownership? Whose hire is this? Pegula? Adams? (Im sure they will claim it was collaborative like the mass of gray area that is the Sabres).

What does this do to the stable of assistant GMs in waiting (Jakubowski, Crowe, Fart-on, Nightingale, Etc).

Does Kekalainen have enough pull where he can push for changes (with any of the changes above, coaching staff, etc?)

These are all great questions that will go unasked by our media the next time they have access to Adams

 

[Sabre the Win]

Oh you sweet summer child...........

There's always lower. Always.

Not for me. My love for the Sabres is almost completely gone. I don't care for any single staff member behind the bench or in the front office. I don't care for any player to wear a jersey.

To me that's rock bottom with this team when I'm just finally at the f*ck it all point with anything Sabres and I don't care what they try.

 

[Duddy]

A lame duck season for coach and GM. Hope once he'll become the GM next season he goes right to work, has full power over his moves/signings etc.. and we will head to the playoffs in 2027.

 

[Der Jaeger]

People keep saying this but that feels like one of the worst things that could happen to this org.

POHO is a vision position and Adams vision for this org has been terrible. The guy publicly listed reasons he thought were legitimate for players not to come to this org. Putting him at the top of the totem pole feels like a good reason to jump off a bridge.

I don't think the POHO must be a vision position. It can be anything the Sabres want it to be.

I think the POHO is important for the Sabres for these reasons:

- Interface between the team and the GM. As noted in another post, being a hockey GM is far more complicated than a football GM. Having someone to answer the phone when the owner calls is a big deal.

- Take on organizational issues so the GM can focus. The Hasek - Kelley issue, stadium issues, interfacing with league offices, etc. That takes a lot of weight off the GM.

- Setting culture and being a veto over moves which don't align with the team's culture. That's what LaFontaine should have been for Murray, vetoing his dumber moves. But LaFontaine left.

I don't think Adams is a vision guy in the future. I think he's Pegula's safety belt to make sure the organization doesn't get burned by another GM.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Not for me. My love for the Sabres is almost completely gone. I don't care for any single staff member behind the bench or in the front office. I don't care for any player to wear a jersey.

To me that's rock bottom with this team when I'm just finally at the f*ck it all point with anything Sabres and I don't care what they try.

Yes, I will probably be more happy with losses next season than wins. Which is going to happen early and often. Until they show they are the slightest bit serious, I just want them to suffer.

 

[joshjull]

My take on this is similar to how I feel about what they're doing w/Appert. I think Terry really likes Kevin, and doesn't want to boot him from the org, but maybe doesn't think GM is the best fit. I can see a change as soon as next year for KA to fall up to Pres. and Jarmo taking over as GM. So instead of blowing it up w/a new staff they're transitioning resources.

I’m not sure how this makes sense with Adams having the idea of hiring a Senior Advisor. Then he ran the search and hired Jarmo who answers to him. Terry just agreed to the plan after Adams presented it.

EDIT: As for the Appert parallel, for arguments sake let’s say he was brought up to learn under Lindy before taking over. That would be newbie to NHL coaching getting mentored by a vet head coach. Jarmo has more GM experience than Adams does.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Oh you sweet summer child...........

There's always lower. Always.

I honestly don’t think there is any lower. Dahlin leaving? They’ll have the same outlook, same record. Tage leaving? We’ve already been there…twice.

Anything bad that could happen has already happened. Now it’s just the same bad things over and over again, which is the definition of rock bottom for me.

I was the biggest fan my whole life and now I hate everyone associated with the team. That’s rock bottom.

 

[Chainshot]

This could very well be the trial version of if Jarmo can work under Kevin and then Kevin fails upward to team president to keep holding Terry's hand while Jarmo and the rest of the staff run the day-to-day stuff.

 

[CowbellConray]

The real question, how many weeks ago did Frank Seravalli break the news since he knows so much about the Sabres org.

Oh wait - he didnt? Shocking

 

[jc17]

Someone did a breakdown of the jarmo notable moves, back when his name first came up

Can anyone find it?

 

[Ehran]

A lame duck season for coach and GM. Hope once he'll become the GM next season he goes right to work, has full power over his moves/signings etc.. and we will head to the playoffs in 2027.

Blah... way to ruin the upcoming season before we even get to the scouting combine!!!