Jarmo Kekäläinen implies more changes coming for the Buffalo Sabres
Jarmo Kekäläinen met with the media for the first time as GM of the Buffalo Sabres and one of the biggest takeaways was he would not commit to Lindy Ruff and the coaching staff staying on or the present hockey department sticking around in it’s current form. Will the Sabres make another move? Kekäläinen also had a lot to say on the future of Alex Tuch and his contract, his relationship with Terry Pegula and how much autonomy he has to run his hockey department, and his mentality with trades. Kekäläinen was aggressive with trades in Columbus, but will he still be as bold as he once was?
Plus, Kekäläinen answers a question about the playoff drought in the same way that every other Sabres figurehead has answered it, a pretty dismissal tone about the 14 years.
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18 Comments
Nice to be back in the NHL!!!!
The drought has nothing to do with this team. It is a young team and plays exactly like a young team period. The fact that we angered the hockey gods by icing a team under the cap whilst dominic hasek wore the crest.
The beauty of video podcasts…dogs. Thats all I need to say on this episode.
Dog reveal
They need to change the Assistant coaches period. The Sabres need to find some Assistant coaches that have played in the NHL and had some high level of success. Even if those players did not win a cup like McKee didn't, bringing in a coach like McKee would help change the culture of the players because he had a lot of success. Look at Montreal and Martin St. Louis. Tell me that that team is not better with him as a Head Coach than Tortorella. Tocchet anyone??? Peca is an Assistant coach but look at the Hawks. Go look at the Panthers coaching staff. Several played in the NHL.
Wilford never made the NHL. Appert? No… Bales played 22 games.. Ellis did but he was more of a tewner. What I will say his Ellis everyone respected his effort.
However if you look at the other players I brought up and the Panthers Coaching Staff you will see a huge difference.
The Sabres should be calling McKee and other former NHLers of this caliber to see if they want to coach this year and Fire Appert, Wilford and Bales. Hell Biron would be a better goalie coach than Bales.
Rob Ray would be a better coach. We need to make this move ASAP.
As for Lindy leave him in as Coach the rest of the year. I would still bring in McKee as a coach that could possibility replace Lindy. McKee is having great success in the OHL. I know its not the AHL or higher however I think McKee could take over as Head Coach next year. Then let him bring in some other former players around him to make this team better.
It's time for Lindy to go, why wait until after this season no reason to. Pegula will have to pay a big chunk for a Debore or Torts but it's worth it, Debore would be my choice. Lock up Tuch gonna have to pay and finally, get a Goalie and move UPL. We have the players, picks and prospects to make a couple deals to get better now.
It’s Lindy’s last year on contract let him finish the season but get him new assistants they’ve been here and failing for way to long
Why should Jaarmo claim responsibility for something he played no part in? Maybe that's what we needed, a GM that isn't carrying guilt.
We’re just over two million from the cap, last year five. Pegula will spend. Spending is not the problem.
If it was my choice Jay McKee would be head coach tomorrow.
Wouldn’t mind seeing Owen Power and John Tortarella alone in a room together
Fuck Torts !!!!!!!!!! This isn't the 70's-80's . Today players are built differently like it or not.
Tuch playing with Sabres makes his value look inflated they'd be crazy if they sign him for more than 4yrs. he's worth 7.5 a year max
Seth Appert?? No way .. 😂
New acquisitions shouldn't wear the burden of the drought !!!! Fresh blood sharing the same miserly-noooooooo
For me, be happy if GM trades Power or Byram for a great RH D man first.
Trade UPL away for a bag of sand.
Decides Tage or Norris top Center and trades the other for a Top winger!
Then trades or waves Krebs to Rochester.
I don’t know why but Greenway should be traded too. Doesn’t look like he likes being here.
Tuch, sign him 4 years 10 million. Don’t get stuck with him more than 5 years.
If you get an offer for a good RH D, make the Trade. Take on a 1-2 year contract. We have Tuch type players. Doan for instance.
Hate to say it but Tuch hasn’t looked like he enjoys playing for the Sabres this year. I think he is wanting out. Just my opinion.
It's funny, when Adams initially became the GM, the same media people said how polished, honest, and focused he seemed. I thought, "are we listening to the same guy?" I want this team to enter 2025-26. That means no Tortorella, no more guys who played or coached for the team 20-25 years ago unless they are the best person, get the most qualified people you can get. Also….this team is only $2.1 mil under the cap, you have to be a little under so if you have injuries, you can call guys up. It's like no one knows this or something.