Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR) - The Buffalo Sabres made the playoffs for the first time in 15 years last season, and also took home an Atlantic Division title and the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
But to general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, Thursday's opening of training camp in Buffalo marks Day 1 all over again for the team.
"Let's get back to work, right away, Day 1," Kekalainen said as he addressed reporters on Wednesday in Buffalo. "It's a shorter camp than it has been before, so it's important we get right at, it understanding that last season was last season. It's in the past. By no means we're satisfied, even though a lot of people are patting us on the back saying that we had a great season. Pretty good, I said to the team, but pretty good is not good enough.
"We also remember very freshly how disappointing it was to lose [Game 7 against the Montreal Canadiens]. And even if we won that game, we're only halfway to where we want to be."
We have all heard the rumors about goalie Connor Hellebuyck almost becoming a member of the Sabres. Kekalainen has also heard all about it, but he didn't really have too much to say about it.
"I have never told anybody in the media about any of the talks with other general managers, so I don't know where it comes from," Kekalainen noted. "But there's going to be rumors, and you can't let it affect you. And there's going to be players from our team that are going to be in the rumors, and some may be where I've never even mention the name to other teams."
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said Wednesday that alternating goalies worked last year, and they'll probably start that way again this year.
"We've said all along that we thought our goaltending was really good last year. We thought we had three really good goalies that all performed career numbers, gave us a lot of wins. But can they be better? Absolutely. Everybody on our team can be better," Kekalainen acknowledged.
The Sabres signed forward Noah Ostlund to a new long-term contract on Monday with an average annual value of $6.6 million. Kekalainen wanted cost certainty when it comes to a very good, young player like the 22-year-old Swede.
"We feel he's going to be one of the core pieces," Kekalainen said. "With the salaries in the league lately, we wanted some cost certainty. "He was a first-round pick for a reason, and his biggest strength is his hockey sense. It's incredible."
Ostlund was taken 16th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, and was part of the return package to Buffalo in the Jack Eichel trade with the Vegas Golden Knights.
With a much shorter training camp, Kekalainen and Lindy Ruff already pretty much know the 23 players that are going to be on the team. There's not a lot of time for that surprise player to play so well that he forces his way on the team.
Kekalainen did bring up a couple of injury notes Wednesday, ahead of the players hitting the ice Thursday:
- Winger Jason Zucker had sports hernia surgery and won't be ready for the start of the regular season.
- Defenseman Louis Crevier had shoulder surgery, but it's possible he could be cleared to start with the team on Thursday
