[News] Sabres fire GM Kevyn Adams. Kekalainen named General Manager

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Well I think they mostly had Treliving because of how he managed Gaudreau and Tkachuk.

And I think Columbus fans hate Jarmo because of how handled Bob and Panarin (among other things)

Nah, this was from before those moves. It mostly started with Feaster fans (yes there were some).

[C_of_Red28]

I’ve often questioned why Jarmo is so widely respected as a general manager, as his tenure in Columbus didn’t consistently reflect that reputation. Many of the roster and structural issues the organization has faced seem to stem from decisions made under his watch. Don Waddell appears to be guiding the Blue Jackets in the right direction, bringing a clearer organizational vision, a more disciplined approach to roster construction and fixing the issues Jarmo left the organization

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Yes, that's why. But they hate Treliving for the same thing.

Does Jarmo have a love for depth defensemen and gritty depth forwards like Treliving? I personally think that's Treliving's undoing. Far too much emphasis and assets traded out to acquire players that don't typically alter the course of games.

[Ped]

Originally Posted by mogg

A recent Athletic fan poll saw Sabres ownership ranked 32/32 in every category: willingness to spend, organizational stability, treatment of fan base and franchise vision.

See also this legendary fan tirade:

https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nhl/...p1ssnspr297jfx

Plus Adams was given the job after two years as an assistant coach, and one year as the Senior Vice President of Business Administration. No actual hockey front office experience.

[Ped]

Apparently Kekalainen is the first time the Sabres have hired a GM with previous experience as one since 1979

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Does Jarmo have a love for depth defensemen and gritty depth forwards like Treliving? I personally think that's Treliving's undoing. Far too much emphasis and assets traded out to acquire players that don't typically alter the course of games.

I think his undoing was James Neal.

[calumniate]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Does Jarmo have a love for depth defensemen and gritty depth forwards like Treliving? I personally think that's Treliving's undoing. Far too much emphasis and assets traded out to acquire players that don't typically alter the course of games.

Totally.. as soon as he gets a successfull team he floods the roster with 'leadership', basically undermining the leadership that got them there in the first place. So it becomes a crowded house with lots of overpaid (assets or salary wise) 'leaders', and misses out on bringing in talented young players that could help do things like score

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

I think his undoing was James Neal.

Neal and Hamonic.

The money wasted on Neal, and the assets wasted on Hamonic were what set this team back.

Also the 2nd round pick for 1 year of Elliott.

The salary implications of those deals + the assets (1 1st, 3 2nds) ended up being his undoing.

If you look back to that 18-19 season the $9.6M tied up in Neal and Hamonic, plus the assets wasted in those trades are the difference between this team being able to trade for Mark Stone (or another elite piece) and not. Maybe if they don't make the Hamonic trade they would have had the assets to acquire Ryan O'Reilly before the 2018 season, or Matt Duchene during that season.

[looooob]

Originally Posted by Ped

Apparently Kekalainen is the first time the Sabres have hired a GM with previous experience as one since 1979

yeah before him the whole list was Punch Imlach and Scotty Bowman! (interestingly- I'd argue outside of Regier's tenure which had some high moments) those first 12-15 years of the franchise was when it was most relevant too- the Sabres - as a post expansion team were one of the league best handful of teams (along with the Habs, Bruins, Flyers and later Isles) for quite a while

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Ped

Apparently Kekalainen is the first time the Sabres have hired a GM with previous experience as one since 1979

Fans often complain about teams constantly hiring 'retreads', but the fact is that experience matters.

[Erick Estrada]

He needs to find a good coach. It's time for Ruff to ride into the sunset.

[NegativeSpace]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Neal and Hamonic.

The money wasted on Neal, and the assets wasted on Hamonic were what set this team back.

Also the 2nd round pick for 1 year of Elliott.

The salary implications of those deals + the assets (1 1st, 3 2nds) ended up being his undoing.

If you look back to that 18-19 season the $9.6M tied up in Neal and Hamonic, plus the assets wasted in those trades are the difference between this team being able to trade for Mark Stone (or another elite piece) and not. Maybe if they don't make the Hamonic trade they would have had the assets to acquire Ryan O'Reilly before the 2018 season, or Matt Duchene during that season.

You are right. For me, Treliving's tenure wasn't one bad decision but a series of bets that cumulatively did not pay off. He demonstrated aggressiveness and a lack of patience (which is interesting as some think Conroy is too patient but I digress). He needs a RW, so he signs Brouwer. That doesn't work out and he buys him out. So, he doubles down and signs Neal. Both were bets that they would elevate in Calgary. Neal turns into Lucic.


The Hamonic trade you could see why he did it if he thought the team was ready to compete, but it was a lot of assets for that player at that time. He needed to be right that the team was ready to compete. Again, it was a bet that in retrospect does not look great.


Even small things were little bets like the constant use of 2nd round picks for a couple months of a defenceman to try to get into the playoffs. Constantly bleeding assets and not refilling the prospect pool makes it hard to compete year in year out.


I do not think they were getting Stone anyways, but Treliving did create a lot of cap inflexibility that could have been used elsewhere.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by NegativeSpace

You are right. For me, Treliving's tenure wasn't one bad decision but a series of bets that cumulatively did not pay off. He demonstrated aggressiveness and a lack of patience (which is interesting as some think Conroy is too patient but I digress). He needs a RW, so he signs Brouwer. That doesn't work out and he buys him out. So, he doubles down and signs Neal. Both were bets that they would elevate in Calgary. Neal turns into Lucic.


The Hamonic trade you could see why he did it if he thought the team was ready to compete, but it was a lot of assets for that player at that time. He needed to be right that the team was ready to compete. Again, it was a bet that in retrospect does not look great.


Even small things were little bets like the constant use of 2nd round picks for a couple months of a defenceman to try to get into the playoffs. Constantly bleeding assets and not refilling the prospect pool makes it hard to compete year in year out.


I do not think they were getting Stone anyways, but Treliving did create a lot of cap inflexibility that could have been used elsewhere.

I've said it before but for almost every move he did you could see the argument about why he did it and why it could have worked, especially on paper.

[Itse]

I've watched Kekäläinen since he worked in Finland, and he's always failed at everything yet somehow he keeps getting hired again. Some guys are just like that.

Of course if he can avoid falling on his face while choking on bubblegum, that'll count as a success in Buffalo.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Does Kekk fancy a Rasmus Andersson?

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by NegativeSpace

You are right. For me, Treliving's tenure wasn't one bad decision but a series of bets that cumulatively did not pay off. He demonstrated aggressiveness and a lack of patience (which is interesting as some think Conroy is too patient but I digress). He needs a RW, so he signs Brouwer. That doesn't work out and he buys him out. So, he doubles down and signs Neal. Both were bets that they would elevate in Calgary. Neal turns into Lucic.


The Hamonic trade you could see why he did it if he thought the team was ready to compete, but it was a lot of assets for that player at that time. He needed to be right that the team was ready to compete. Again, it was a bet that in retrospect does not look great.


Even small things were little bets like the constant use of 2nd round picks for a couple months of a defenceman to try to get into the playoffs. Constantly bleeding assets and not refilling the prospect pool makes it hard to compete year in year out.


I do not think they were getting Stone anyways, but Treliving did create a lot of cap inflexibility that could have been used elsewhere.

In for a penny, in for a pound. Once he felt they were out of the rebuild, he wouldn't or couldn't step back. See also: sunk cost fallacy.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Originally Posted by Itse

I've watched Kekäläinen since he worked in Finland, and he's always failed at everything yet somehow he keeps getting hired again. Some guys are just like that.

Of course if he can avoid falling on his face while choking on bubblegum, that'll count as a success in Buffalo.

Failing upwards is a special talent.

[Ped]

You know its bad when Sportsnet has to count the Sabres signing Alex Lyon as one of Adams' best moves.

[Samonadreau]

Kekalainen passing on Jesse PullanRV alone raised his stock in my books.

[NegativeSpace]

Originally Posted by D as in David

In for a penny, in for a pound. Once he felt they were out of the rebuild, he wouldn't or couldn't step back. See also: sunk cost fallacy.

I suppose. I’m not a hater of Treliving and I could see the rationale when he made moves. I recall a few years every trade deadline yelling out “why?” with the regular depth defence for a 2nd or 3rd round pick.

I think that a GM needs to actually build up the franchise though. It’s great that he discovered he had a good core ahead of schedule, but there are many teams prior to those Flames teams that have uneven development. Again, I understood his thinking but his job is the growth of the organization.

Treliving has the unfortunate characteristics of both being timid in making moves yet making too many moves that deplete the asset base. He’s in on everything but rarely does more than tinker around the edges. Yet, his tinkering tended to deplete the organization.