Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550/WBEN) - It has been a week since the Sabres hired Jarmo Kekalainen to serve as a senior advisor to general manager Kevyn Adams in Buffalo.
The former Columbus Blue Jackets general manager is in a new position in Buffalo created by owner Terry Pegula. He gives the Sabres some front office NHL experience that the team didn’t have in years past.
During an appearance with Brian Duff and Marty Biron on "Sabres Live" on Friday, Kekalainen says this opportunity in Buffalo didn’t just come about overnight.
"It was quite a long process. I went through the interview process for other positions in the league, but I had talked to Kevyn a lot before that," said Kekalainen on WGR.
"I was very interested in the position that he was offering. I was interested in the situation and the challenge with Buffalo, and the opportunity and the potential on the team. But also the roll is important to me, because I didn’t want to be looked at as somebody who's retiring or who doesn’t want to do work. I want to be 100% in, 24/7, doing everything I can to help Kevyn and the Buffalo Sabres. That was a big part of why I wanted to join."
Related
It was over a year in-between jobs for Kekalainen, as he wanted to take some time off after being fired by Columbus. He says he is so happy he took a moment to step back.
"I think it was the best decision I made, just to take some time off and reflect and learn from my experiences and mistakes," Kekalainen admitted. "I was over a year without being in the wheel of 24/7, and I wanted to broaden my views. So for me to take that time off and just learn and soak in information from different areas of life, hockey business, sports, it was probably the most educating time of my career since going to school."
Kekalainen says it was his dream to play in the NHL, as he did for 55 games with the Boston Bruins. He acknowledges, though, when he wasn't good enough to play in the NHL anymore, he moved into management and tried to get into the league from there.
In the years since playing, Kekalainen has worked for the Ottawa Senators and St. Louis Blues before becoming the general manager in Columbus.
He says there have been so many influences for him along the way.
"I’ve had the privilege to work with people that I’ve been able to learn a lot from. I worked with Marshall Johnston, who was a great talent evaluator, highly organized guy that taught me a lot about the scouting side. Ray Shero, he gave me my first job and opportunity in the NHL. Larry Pleau hired me in St. Louis, Doug Armstrong joined there when I was still there. And John Davidson, who I have a great relationship to this day with him," Kekalainen said.
As the general manager of the Blue Jackets, Kekalainen wasn't afraid to make some bold moves to help his team. He says there’s a time and a place when you have to be.
"I think I’m aggressive when it’s the time and place to be aggressive, but I’d say I’m pretty analytical, and I have the poise to look at the situation and take a step back, and analyze it rather than reacting to something because you feel something has got to be done," Kekalainen explained. "But when the window opens, I think you need to be aggressive, because the window to win with a team is never open forever."
The NHL Combine is taking place this week in Buffalo, with the final day of workouts and meetings with some of the top prospects being on Saturday.