Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Jarmo Kekalainen era is underway in Western New York, as the newest general manager of the Buffalo Sabres was introduced in his new role on Tuesday after the firing of Kevyn Adams on Monday.
Kekalainen takes over as general manager after joining the organization this past offseason as a senior advisor. Being around the team and getting to know the makeup of the organization since the spring, Kekalainen feels pretty good about the future direction of the group.
"I've spent most of the fall with the team, watching them live - whether it was at home, and I've been on the road trips, I've been watching practices. That was my intention the whole time. I wanted to get to know the team before I could give any good advice in my role that I had there going into the season," said Kekalainen on Wednesday when he joined the "Jeremy and Joe Show" on WGR. "I have a pretty good head start on everything, and I'll keep evaluating. I think that team is in a good spot right now, having won three in-a-row. I think we have all kinds of skill and talent on the team. We just have to get more consistent and be more competitive, and good things will happen."
It's very well-known how long it's been since the Sabres have last appeared in the playoffs, and Buffalo currently sits at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings through 32 games this season. While Kekalainen still believes the playoffs are possible this year, just breaking the drought in Buffalo isn't what he is going for.
"First of all, you've got to make the playoffs to have a chance to win the [Stanley] Cup, and that's the ultimate goal. The goal can't just be making the playoffs and be happy with it," Kekalainen said Jeremy White and Joe DiBiase. "We made the playoffs five times in 10 seasons that I was in Columbus, and you were happy for 7-to-14 days if you lost in the first round and you were unhappy again. And then when we went to the second round, you were little bit happier longer, that would be 28 days maximum if you lost in the second round like we did. So it's misery until you go all the way."
Kekalainen believes there is talent on this roster, but they have to earn respect from around the league.
"I think winning brings credibility and respect, and that's something that we have to earn... one day at a time, by working hard," Kekalainen said. "I think everybody around the league, realizes the talent is there. We've just got to get the results, and then the respect will come with it."
The Sabres play their first game under Kekalainen on Thursday night when they host the Philadelphia Flyers for a 7:30 p.m. faceoff at Keybank Center.
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