US EditionPublished • loading... • Updated
Mike Harrington: Getting Alex Tuch's Deal Done Is an Early Test for New Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen
- In his first full day as GM, Jarmo Kekalainen said building character and consistency is a top priority, stating `I think character is the biggest part of talent... and that's the talent we need to focus on`.
- After recent regression, the club faces pressure to reverse downward trends as the Buffalo Sabres dropped from 91 points in the 2022-23 season to 79 last year and hold a 14-14-4 record tied for last but six points behind eighth-place Boston Bruins.
- Kekalainen said he will evaluate every department, including scouting and coaches, while prioritizing contract talks with Alex Tuch and planning to reduce the goalie roster from three to two with waivers or demotions for Ellis, Luukkonen, and Lyon.
- With ownership backing, Jarmo Kekalainen said he has full authority over the hockey department and owner Terry Pegula approved spending to the salary-cap limit, while he publicly supported Lindy Ruff but warned evaluations could lead to changes.
- Arriving after a family bereavement in Finland, Jarmo Kekalainen begins his Sabres tenure with personal context, following his father's death last week and bringing a history of bold roster moves like 2019's stand-pat and signing Johnny Gaudreau in 2022.
Insights by Ground AI
Podcasts & Opinions
19 Articles
19 Articles
Associated Press News+6 Reposted by 6 other sources
Jarmo Kekalainen's first priority as Buffalo Sabres new GM is building character and consistency
In his first full day as Sabres general manager, Jarmo Kekalainen pointed to Buffalo’s depth of talent for giving him every reason to believe the team can climb back into playoff contention.
·United States
Read Full Article
Coverage Details
Total News Sources19
Leaning Left6Leaning Right1Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Left
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
50% Left
L 50%
C 42%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
