Kekalainen - Buffalo Hockey Beat

GM Jarmo Kekalainen’s plan for Sabres includes more competitive identity; Lindy Ruff, coaches will be evaluated

BUFFALO – Oh, you bet Jarmo Kekalainen has a plan to improve the Sabres. In his first remarks as general manager, he spoke clearly and firmly about what he values.

Character, the hockey lifer said Tuesday before taking questions, is the biggest part of talent. He wants the Sabres to develop a competitive and relentless identity.

“There’s been games this year where we looked like it was going to be easy, and then we lost ... Read the full article

Sabres notes: Jarmo Kekalainen to ‘take charge’ of Alex Tuch’s contract talks; Buffalo could go down to two goalies

BUFFALO – In his first days on the job, Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said he plans to “take charge” of contract negotiations with winger Alex Tuch’s representatives.

Tuch, one of former GM Kevyn Adams’ biggest trade acquisitions, expressed his desire earlier this season to sign an extension with the Sabres.

But has another difficult campaign changed Tuch’s mind? The Baldwinsville native can become an unrestricted free agent following the season.... Read the full article

More change likely coming after Jarmo Kekalainen replaces Kevyn Adams as Sabres GM

What happens next? General manager Kevyn Adams, having been fired on Monday by owner Terry Pegula and replaced by Jarmo Kekalainen, is gone after a five-and-a-half-year run in which he failed to build the Buffalo Sabres into a playoff team.

Adams, a Clarence native Pegula and his wife, Kim, a co-owner, hired as GM despite having never worked in an NHL hockey department, came oh-so-close to delivering that elusive playoff berth in 2022-23, when the ... Read the full article

Sabres fire GM Kevyn Adams, name Jarmo Kekalainen replacement

The Buffalo Sabres this afternoon fired general manager Kevyn Adams, ending a five-and-a-half year tenure in which he failed to build a playoff team. Jarmo Kekalainen, who had been serving as a senior advisor to Adams since late May, was named the new permanent GM.

Kekalainen, 59, spent 11 years as GM of the Columbus Blue Jackets before being let go in 2023-24.

Right now, the Sabres, who an NHL-record 14-year playoff drought, sit in ... Read the full article

While changes are possible, it appears Sabres will keep assistant coaches

ORCHARD PARK – Kevyn Adams said he has given Lindy Ruff the green light to change his staff. The general manager even noted the coach has spoken to people about joining the Buffalo Sabres.

But right now, it appears Ruff, 65, will bring back the assistant coaches he worked with last season, when the Sabres mustered 79 points and finished 14th in the Eastern Conference.

Most teams, of course, likely wouldn’t run back the same ... Read the full article

Offseason likely to feature trades about to kick into high gear for Sabres

In winger JJ Peterka and defenseman Bowen Byram, the Buffalo Sabres possess two budding stars under 25.

Peterka, 23, is coming off a career-high 68-point season and has recorded 28 and 27 goals, respectively, in each of the last two campaigns.

Meanwhile, in his first full season in Buffalo, Byram, 24, enjoyed a breakout year, scoring 38 points while averaging nearly 23 minutes of ice time per outing.

The youngsters, both of whom are due ... Read the full article

Sabres add to front office by naming Jarmo Kekalainen senior advisor to GM Kevyn Adams

In hiring Jarmo Kekalainen on Friday as a senior advisor to general manager Kevyn Adams, the Buffalo Sabres added a respected hockey lifer whose decades in the game can provide critical guidance to a team trying to end an NHL-record 14-year playoff drought.

When the Sabres must make a difficult decision, you can bet Kekalainen, who spent 11 years as general manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets, will speak up and explain what he did ... Read the full article