Confirmed with Link: Jarmo Kekäläinen hired as Senior Advisor

[DapperCam]

Wasn’t Jarmo bad in Columbus? My memory is kinda hazy. But I don’t remember thinking much of his time there.

Kind of a mixed bag

 

[HOOats]

Jarmo plucked a 25yo Mathieu Olivier with 48 games over three seasons with Nashville for a 4th at the 2022 Draft. Since then, 202 games over three seasons with the BJs as the league's preeminent enforcer.

Here's hoping he has another mean target up his sleeve...

 

[Fezzy126]

There goes the hopes for Rick Dudley, me thinks

Possibly, but the organization Dudley works for has two senior advisors and one special advisor. They're not limited to one senior advisor, the Sabres could always add more voices to the room.

 

[Laphroaig]

Great hire by the Sabres. When Kekalainen was chief European scout for the Senators he was responsible for Ottawa drafting guys like Alfredsson, Hossa and Havlat. Jarmo knows talent.

 

[Jimmybarndoor2]

The move itself looks really good and promising

My concern is how much impact/effect he will be allowed to have

My mood is hopeful

 

[Puppa2Miller]

Great hire by the Sabres. When Kekalainen was chief European scout for the Senators he was responsible for Ottawa drafting guys like Alfredsson, Hossa and Havlat. Jarmo knows talent.

We once hired a "super scout" from the Sens, or so we were told. He was actually a drunken fool

 

[slip]

Let’s go!

At least Pegula won’t have to go far to find the next Buffalo GM.

 

[Dingo44]

 

[sabremike]

 

[LamaTabootTaboot]

I think he did pretty well for such a small market with guys not wanting to play there.

I used to have to spend a bit of time in Columbus. Cool town. Obviously anchored by Ohio State. You get championship sports all the time at your finger tips.

But it's vibrant with a good music scene. They are also the third largest fashion city in the US. There are places for these kids to spend money.

 

[debaser66]

View attachment 1044352

Already looks like Harbor Center.

hungarian harbour

 

[THUNDERBURST]

I'm still a little surprised and very excited about this hire, this is exactly what I wanted to see as a GM for a long time.

 

[Chainshot]

I used to have to spend a bit of time in Columbus. Cool town. Obviously anchored by Ohio State. You get championship sports all the time at your finger tips.

But it's vibrant with a good music scene. They are also the third largest fashion city in the US. There are places for these kids to spend money.

Columbus has a lot going for it and the target rich environment for younger players due to the number of undergrads in town is certainly one. It was also viewed (rightly) as a way to have people with disposable income and free time to go to games and a built in rivalry with Michigan/Detroit.

It seems like they've shed some of their rep as a location. I don't know if Buffalo ever will - it's hard when the benefits of the area are more for veteran types (schools, cost of homes) than kids (not a target rich environment, not as much to do/see).

 

[Sabresbyswords104]

So What Will he help us with this summer ti improve the roster ? Because this is the summer and i think Sabres with these two hires show that

 

[yasky]

He's not the GM yet, but I expect this helps expediate KA's move to President of Hockey Ops or personal chauffer or whatever Terry wants him to do next.

 

[Chainshot]

So What Will he help us with this summer ti improve the roster ? Because this is the summer and i think Sabres with these two hires show that

Hoping they reshape their blueline and find another 2-way forward for me.

 

[Dubi Doo]

Hoping they reshape their blueline and find another 2-way forward for me.

This signing gives me a bit of hope big changes are coming this offseason. Looking at the list of moves Jarmo has made- it seems he's pretty aggressive.

 

[Jacob582]

Some archives I find interesting:

- Jarmo Kekalainen was fired by Columbus February 15, 2024.

- "I'd be a lot better general manager the second time around," Kekalainen told NHL.com. "I'm also realizing that I'm not ready to retire, so I'm staying active. I've [scouted] some games to make sure that I stay current with the other prospects coming into the NHL, which is a lot of NHL hockey, college hockey, major junior, [American Hockey League]" (4/2/24)

 

[Push Dr Tracksuit]

Was never as big of a fan of his Columbus teams as people around here were. Those teams were still better than Buffalo.

 

[jc17]

Not that if expect too much detail but when is KA expected to speak next? Any scheduled wgr stuff? I'd love to hear more on the role they see Jarmo filling as advisor. If it's more organizational structure, or roster specific. Is Adams running things by him, or is he boots on the ground interacting with people outside of the sabres

 

[Beerz]

Not that if expect too much detail but when is KA expected to speak next? Any scheduled wgr stuff? I'd love to hear more on the role they see Jarmo filling as advisor. If it's more organizational structure, or roster specific. Is Adams running things by him, or is he boots on the ground interacting with people outside of the sabres

The press release stated he will be involved "in all aspects" of the hockey department

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Former Sabres prospect Petri Matikainen has been a successful coach throughout Europe and is available.

 

[jc17]

The press release stated he will be involved "in all aspects" of the hockey department

Yeah, but even then what does involved mean. Staal is "involved" top. I don't expect much, but hoping we get a little more insight eventually

 

[toddkaz]

Possibly, but the organization Dudley works for has two senior advisors and one special advisor. They're not limited to one senior advisor, the Sabres could always add more voices to the room.

View attachment 1044359

Rick Dudley looking good or its an old picture?

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

I thought the BJs drafting news much better than it actually was over Jarmo’s tenure. Is it possible to have been any worse??

Columbus Blue Jackets Draft History at hockeydb.com