Building a Championship Team: Jarmo Kekalainen's Vision as Sabres GM
BUFFALO — Jarmo Kekalainen has made his ambitions abundantly clear: simply making it to the Stanley Cup Playoffs is not enough as he takes on the role of general manager for the Buffalo Sabres.
"While reaching the playoffs is commendable, our real aim goes beyond that; we are here to construct a championship team," Kekalainen stated on Tuesday, the day after he succeeded Kevyn Adams as the Sabres’ GM. He emphasized, "Winning the Cup is our ultimate goal. Every team in the NHL shares this aspiration, and it is certainly what we intend to achieve with the Buffalo Sabres. However, it's essential to qualify for the playoffs first if we want to even have a shot at that trophy."
Initially brought on board as a senior advisor to Adams back in May, Kekalainen took over the position after Adams was let go midway through his sixth season with the team. Prior to this, Kekalainen served as the general manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2013 to 2024, marking a historic moment as he became the first European GM in NHL history.
The Sabres have faced a long and painful drought, having not qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2011—a record for the longest absence from postseason play in the league's history. The closest they came to breaking this streak was during the 2022-23 season when they finished just one point shy of the Florida Panthers for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Their records in the subsequent seasons were also disappointing, finishing 39-37-6 in 2023-24 and 36-39-7 the following season.
Currently, the team stands at 14-14-4 after 32 games this season, placing them six points behind the Boston Bruins for the second wild card position from the East. However, they are currently tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets, occupying the last spot in the conference standings.
Kekalainen expressed optimism about the team's potential, stating, "I believe we are close. While you might wish to accelerate the process sometimes, progress cannot be rushed. There are many promising elements within this roster, and I genuinely believe we can make the playoffs this year. There's still plenty of hockey left to play."
Yet, the shadow of the playoff drought continues to loom over the franchise. Key players like Captain Rasmus Dahlin and center Tage Thompson are both enduring their eighth season with the Sabres, while defenseman Mattias Samuelsson and forward Alex Tuch have been part of the team for six and five seasons respectively. Notably, Thompson, Tuch, and Samuelsson each hold alternate captain positions.
Before his press conference on Tuesday, Kekalainen took the time to speak with the players, assuring them that he is not interested in merely seeking a quick fix to secure a playoff berth.
"I will not compromise our ultimate goal just to make the playoffs, only to find ourselves lacking the sustainability needed to compete for the Stanley Cup," Kekalainen asserted. "Our plan is centered around the Stanley Cup, and we will not take shortcuts merely to end the drought. We have some excellent core components here; we’re almost there. Now we just need to take that next step."
The Sabres will face the Philadelphia Flyers for the first time with Kekalainen as GM at the KeyBank Center on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET, which will be broadcasted on HULU and ESPN+. The team is under the guidance of head coach Lindy Ruff, whose impressive track record has earned him respect. Kekalainen noted, "His experience speaks volumes, and I’ve really enjoyed collaborating with him so far."
Ruff, now 65, is in his second stint as the head coach of the Sabres after being appointed on April 22, 2024.
"He dedicates himself fully every day and constantly seeks ways to improve," Kekalainen mentioned.
However, Kekalainen has indicated that every aspect of the organization will be reviewed moving forward, including the scouting department, management, and coaching staff.
"At this stage, everyone’s performance is under scrutiny, but we also have many talented individuals here who excel in their roles," he added.
Ultimately, Kekalainen’s main hope is to see greater consistency on the ice. Recently, the Sabres concluded a challenging six-game road trip with a three-game winning streak, marking their first such success of the season. They achieved their initial regulation victories away from home during this trip, having started with three consecutive losses. Prior to this, they had only managed to win twice on the road—once in overtime and once in a shootout.
"Losing to teams that may lack talent but outwork you is simply unacceptable," Kekalainen emphasized. "We cannot allow that to happen. We need to cultivate character, consistency, competitiveness, and relentless effort.
Each day, we must ask ourselves: What can we do today to improve, whether as individuals or as a cohesive unit? Our focus will remain on today; we don’t want to gaze too far ahead. There is still a lot of hockey left to play this year, and I genuinely believe we can accomplish great things with this team."
