BFHS 12/16/25: A New Day
Kris Baker and The Athletic’s Matthew Fairburn discuss everything Buffalo Sabres. Hit that like button and read Matthew’s latest at The Athletic: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6892569/2025/12/16/sabres-buffalo-jarmo-kekalainen-kevyn-adams/
23 Comments
If Jarmo doesn't immediately end the 3 goalie nonsense and keep Ostlund up for good, I will lose confidence quickly
Just listened to Jarmo. Oof. I hope to all the hockey gods that this guy isnāt as bad I think – can barely give a straight answer.
Happy belated birthday to Tito & Aspen's father!
Is Ralph Kreuger's coaching staff still employed? I will believe Jaro as soon as Ralph's coaching staff is no longer ruining Buffalo Sabre players.
Fairburn needs to make his point quicker, he talks so slow
Happy Birthday Kris.
Great pod. You guys always dig deep. The discussion on leadership and vision cuts to the core of the problems with KA and the hopes we all have for Jarmo.
I can finally say āhopeā with a touch of guarded optimism.
Happy Belated Birthday Kris! Wondering if LA is interested in UPL guess it depends on how serious Darcy Keumper's Injury is ?
I think drafting and scouting needs a house cleaning. We haven't drafted or developed upper end talent for years now.
Happy belated, Kris!
Iām the other way. Iām more excited.jarmo is here than Kevin being gone. I think Kevinās hands arms and legs were tied. I donāt think Terry let him do anything and as we saw, he didnāt do anything. I donāt think.jarmo is coming in here for a paycheck or I have to ask the ownerās permission to wipe his ass. Thatās not his personality. Thatās not who he is. That is who Adams was. I donāt think itās gonna be a community decision or what do you think which never works let me check with Charlie in concessions see what he thinks.
Iād be absolutely floored if this wasnāt primarily a one-man show maybe he brings in a guy or two that he trust but itās gonna be completely different than itās been. Time will tell, but he is certainly different than energy and theyāve had not free to step on toes. Itās not your decision. Itās mine.
Kekalainen walks into a real opportunity. Kevyn From Accounting didn't get it done, and was WELL past his sell-by date. But he did do a respectable job of tearing it down to the studs, and acquiring some of the right materials to rebuild with. If Kekalainen can organize those materials into a coherent whole, and figure out what the missing pieces are… well I've been saying for three years that the team doesn't add up to the sum of its parts. Fix that dysfunction; whatever is causing it; and get the final pieces in place, and Kekalainen could be positioned to rake a pot Kevyn From Accounting fed his chips into.
Lindy Ruff is a legend. DO NOT FIRE LINDY!
Is it key or kek-alienen?
Happy belated, Mr. Baker, many happy returns. Good discussion as usual. I have some thoughts/questions and welcome any response.
1. I'm a native of (716) from a family of Sabres STHs and have lived in Columbus for 11 years. I was a CBJ STH for most of Jarmo's run here. He was always decisive when it came to goaltending, so there's that. I was also in the barn for every home game of that 2019 two-round run and it was every bit as loud as games 3, 4, and 6 of the Cup Final in Buffalo. When Jarmo went for it, he and Torts earned a lot of good will in this town. No one blamed him when Bread and Bob left for NYR and FLA, respectively, since there's not much in Columbus to keep young Russian multi-millionaires entertained. Edited to add: Jarmo knows the challenges of a small market and how to sell it to players with aligning values – it'll be even easier in Buffalo than in Columbus when it comes to players from the GTA/southern Ontario.
2. Do we know what the contracts are for the current assistants? I've heard/read that the hesitation to part ways was Terry's unwillingness to pay even more people who are no longer in the building. Something has to improve with the assistants, and here's an example I just can't stop thinking about: when Byram arrived after the trade, he played like a rocketized animal who had been shot out of a cannon. On the other side of that transaction, Mittsy noted in his early Colorado interviews that he hadn't been so tired after practice since his time as a Golden Gopher. I don't think these coaches are training this roster to play a full 60 minutes at the intensity level required in the playoffs. Curious to hear Matt's opinion on this as someone who watches practice.
3. Did you hear Rhett Warriner talking seriously on his podcast last week about Rayzor as POHO? I threw up in my mouth when he said it. I agree with y'all that Lindy may not want a job as heavy as that, but he can certainly be a consigliere for Terry and a POHO if one is hired. Any thoughts on who might be a good fit?
4. In terms of player movement, I have to imagine Quinn, Greenway, Power, UPL, and Levi are going to be feeling the heat since the guy who targeted them as building blocks is now gone. Three things to make a diamond: carbon, pressure, and time – curious to see if these carbon-based lifeforms turn into diamonds under pressure or turn to goo.
Keep up the good work.
Good job gentlemen š
Can confirm, the Sabres were considering a change with Sabretooth. There was a game recently where Sabretooth was a little too rambunctious. He was throwing himself in to the glass at ice level. Apparently, that made the grounds crew a little nervous. Say hi to Kevyn(Sabretooth) when you see him! Terry's gotta get his money's worth. š
Happy birthday Kris, what a great birthday present for you. Yeah, my feelings about the change of GM is what's next? Can Jarmo get the Tuch deal done, is UPL on the trade block, can he get a veteran forward that solidifies the PP?PS I Always thought Adams was Kim's guy. Tortarella's first coaching job was Rochester.
Maybe it took a try and buy to get jarmo to commit.
Well this one earned a like (and a subscription from me). I think once they hired GMJK, that should've been the instant clue that Adams has been put on notice.
This calls for The Earl of Bud to make an appearance for a double Tequila Dance on the railing, one for a new Sabres Era, the other for Kris's Birthday!
why y'all putting Lindy out to pasture already?
Boys – Kent Johnson and Yegor Chinakhov, both Jarmo picks, have been demoted to the 4th lineā¦what say you, easy trade?
Johnson – Thompson – Tuch
Chinakhov – Norris – Doan
Benson – McLeod – Zucker
Malenstyn – Kozak – Wood
Samuelsson – Dahlin
Power – Kesselring
Johnson – Timmins
Lyon
Ellis
Trade them Byram, Quinn, UPLā¦and a pick or B-level prospect like Neuchev?
Edit: How about Krebs for Wood?
What's the attraction with Appert??