Jarmo Kekäläinen has a huge impact – now an amazing text has come: “I trust much more”
The Athletic ranked NHL teams based on how the teams’ management inspires confidence among fans and others following hockey.
On the list, the Buffalo Sabres made a significant leap from last year, with Jarmo Kekäläinen starting as GM last December. Buffalo is ranked tenth on the list, whereas a year ago it was last, at rank 32.
Additionally, according to The Athletic’s data, as many as 96 percent of Sabres fans reported that their confidence in the management has increased compared to last year.
Buffalo made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2011. They won their division and reached the second round of the playoffs.
The Athletic describes that when Kekäläinen stepped into the GM role, Buffalo immediately gained credibility and the entire organization came to life.
– To be honest, this is still mainly (ex-GM) Kevyn Adams‘s team. But Jarmo has made convincing acquisitions. He definitely seems capable – and willing – to make big trades. I trust Jarmo much more than Adams. Now he needs to show that he can lead our team throughout the season, is a fan’s perspective on Kekäläinen.
Among Kekäläinen’s moves, contracts made for Josh Doan and Zach Benson stood out. Additionally, Kekäläinen traded Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram out of the team.
The lack of replacements for Tuch and Byram worries some fans, but despite this, there is a sense of hope in Buffalo for the first time in a long while.
– I think this management is focused on building a team that will compete for the Stanley Cup in the long term. The decisions they made were difficult (Tuch, Byram), but I believe they were absolutely the right ones, shares a fan’s perspective.
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