Jarmo Kekalainen

Job One for Jarmo Kekäläinen: End the Three Goalie Rotation

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Jarmo Kekäläinen has a lot of work to do. First up better be figuring out the two goalies he wants to move forward with. 

Kekäläinen was asked about his goaltenders in his introductory press conference and he didn’t beat around the bush. He expressed similar concerns with the arrangement as Lindy Ruff did recently and Kekäläinen’s response suggested he is planning on making a call sooner rather than later. 

If you were looking for a difference between Kekäläinen and Kevyn Adams, comparing the speed with which Kekäläinen makes a call on his goaltenders with Adams choice to sit on the trio will make for a good exercise. 

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Jarmo Kekäläinen Marks A Merciful End to the Adams Era

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The Kevyn Adams era came to a much anticipated end on Monday when the Buffalo Sabres relieved him of his duties as general manager and named Jarmo Kekäläinen as his replacement. 

Adams’ tenure should have ended at least eight months earlier, though a case could be made that he shouldn’t have seen the summer of 2024, either. Regardless, the Sabres finally moved on from their deeply unpopular GM in favor of a candidate whose resume is probably the strongest the Sabres have had at the position since (minimally) Darcy Regier. Adams’ lack of experience became a major talking point as the Sabres floundered, particularly over the last two seasons as the team languished at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. 

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An Adult in the Room: Kekäläinen Adds Experience to Buffalo’s Front Office

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Kevyn Adams has some company. The Sabres hired Jarmo Kekäläinen as Senior Advisor Friday, completing a move that had been rumored since the spring and adding an experienced voice to Adams’ staff. 

Kekäläinen will report to Adams as part of the larger front office structure, an arrangement that was expected if and when the Sabres found a suitable candidate for the role. Exactly what level of influence Kekäläinen will have is to be determined. It’s safe to assume he’ll be at the table when it comes to draft picks, trades and signings, but whether or not he’ll have any sort of veto power or notable influence on those decisions won’t come to light for some time. 

Considering what has been shown of the Sabres’ front office through reporting and team-produced content is a group where several opinions are heard on a subject and Adams puts value in hearing from multiple viewpoints on a player or acquisition. Kekäläinen ought to blend nicely into that operating procedure. He is a seasoned front office executive who is fresh off a decade at the helm of the Columbus Blue Jackets, his point of view will be unique to Buffalo’s management group. Only Jason Karmanos comes close to having a similar background to Kekäläinen. 

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