Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen: 'We're playing to win, rather than playing to score another goal'
The new Sabres general manager continues to evaluate the front office and roster and said of the players, "I think there's no need to disrupt anything right now with a good flow going."
New general manager Jarmo Kekalainen is as impressed with the Buffalo Sabres lately as the team's fans.
The Sabres entered Tuesday's game against the Ottawa Senators in Canadian Tire Centre on a six-game win streak that stood as their longest since 2022 and the longest current run in the NHL. They were 3-0 since Kekalainen took over from the deposed Kevyn Adams.
"I think we've been disciplined. I think we're playing to win, rather than playing to score another goal, and I think that's important as the team matures and learns to play the right way," Kekalainen said in meeting with reporters prior to the team's morning skate. "Understand that there are certain situations when you're up, 3-1 or 4-2 or whatever it may be, that you don't have to score another goal. You just need to play the right way to win."
Asked about the balance between making moves to put an early imprint on the roster and not upsetting a locker room that is at its highest point in several seasons, Kekalainen admitted he is toeing a difficult line.
"That's a good question," he said. "I think there's no need to disrupt anything right now with a good flow going. We're going to keep watching and evaluating, and always try to do what's best for the team and for the individuals on it."
New general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said that the Sabres have played disciplined hockey over the last week.
Derek Gee, Buffalo News
Kekalainen was particularly impressed by Sunday's 3-1 win in New Jersey, a game Buffalo dominated in the second period and controlled through the third.
"The last two periods were clinical, I called it." he said. "I thought we played really well in the second and third period in New Jersey. But it's amazing what confidence does. I always say that if you could bottle that thing and just sell it, you'd be a billionaire, because it's everything.
"These guys know what they're doing, and they can do it eyes closed. But then, sometimes, the confidence gets a little shaky, and it looks like they don't know what they're doing. But then when the confidence comes back, it's just easy. You rely on your instinct and play the game like they did in the backyard when they were kids. So it's great to see."
The Sabres are still carrying three goalies, and that might be one of Kekalainen's first areas to move on when the holiday roster freeze ends Saturday. Colten Ellis remains on injured reserve after a concussion, but skated again Tuesday while Alex Lyon got the start in the game and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen served as the backup.
"We'll get to that when the right time comes," Kekalainen said. "The rotation with three goalies is tough, the repetitions and practices is tougher with three goalies. We've had Colten Ellis on the injured reserve list, so it's not something that we need to think about, right now. And our goalies have been playing really well lately, so we'll get to that."
Kekalainen is wasting no time shaping things his way in his first week on the job. With the playing roster unable to be touched, the new GM has immediately turned his attention to the front office and made three major moves.
He fired associate GM Jason Karmanos, who was also the GM of the Rochester Americans, and replaced him with former Montreal GM Marc Bergevin, and then recruited Columbus assistant GM Josh Flynn to rejoin him in a similar role in Buffalo as a specialist in the salary cap, the CBA and analytics.
Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said that the team will address the issue of carrying three goalies in time.
Joed Viera, Buffalo News
Kekalainen has not worked with Bergevin on the same team, but liked his experience as a former NHL GM, and wanted to add more of that to his new organization.
"He's somebody that's been in my seat and knows the ins and outs of it, what you're dealing with," Kekalainen said. "I've always had a lot of respect for him as a general manager who was at the other end of it when we were talking about things, and I know he works hard. He's a good player evaluator. I think his track record in Montreal, as far as the trades go, is among the best in the league, so I think it's a great fit for us."
Karmanos was a close confidante of Adams, but was living in Pittsburgh and making regular trips to Rochester and Buffalo to fulfill his role.
Said Kekalainen: "I think these moves were necessary, now, that we made, and that's why we made them now."
Kekalainen said he's still going to be delineating duties among his staff, and wasn't prepared to say who is going to be designated as the Amerks' GM in the wake of Karmanos' dismissal.
"We'll get to that in short order here. We've already talked amongst the staff that everybody's going to have a role," Kekalainen said. "Everybody's going to have an important role, and the responsibilities are going to be spread. We're going to be working on this together as a team, just like the guys on the ice."
Kekalainen said current assistant GMs Mark Jakubowski and Jerry Forton are being retained.
"We're all going to work together. I've taken a very close look at our amateur scouting process and the staff, and they do a good job and and very diligent about their work," he said. "I'm happy with the way things have gone, so far, on that side."
Still, there's likely going to be more moves. Although it's believed Kekalainen has not yet asked the Blue Jackets for permission to talk to any of his other former staff members, multiple NHL sources say it is a matter of time before Columbus director of amateur scouting and former NHL forward Ville Siren gets a role with the Sabres.
Siren was promoted to his current role by Kekalainen in 2016 and worked with him in the scouting department in St. Louis prior to their time in Columbus.
There is also chatter around Blue Jackets pro scouting director and longtime NHL tough guy Basil McRae, who served as an assistant GM under Kekalainen for five seasons.
"Everybody has to have the same goal, and we're going to have to work together," Kekalainen said. "And if we need to add some people, we'll add some people."