Buffalo Sabres can finally look forward to a better new era under Jarmo Kekalainen

The Buffalo Sabres are desperate to end their 14-year NHL playoff drought. After watching former general manager Kevyn Adams sit on his hands for five-plus years, ownership finally pulled the trigger on a change. Jarmo Kekalainen now takes over a franchise in desperate need of bold moves.

The biggest gripe with Adams was his refusal to make decisive moves when the situation demanded action. Sabres fans can expect a completely different approach from their new general manager.

Jarmo Kekalainen's aggressive approach will be a welcome change for Buffalo Sabres

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Adams benefited from a strong personal relationship with Sabres owner Terry Pegula that predated his promotion to general manager. That friendship kept him employed despite having zero experience in any key decision-making front office roles before landing the job.

Adams was completely unqualified to serve as an NHL GM, and it showed daily. He likely would have been dismissed years ago if not for that underlying friendship with Pegula, along with his willingness to keep the team's owner looped in on hockey decisions.

His passivity became impossible to ignore this season when he refused to break up the team's problematic three-goalie rotation. The decision paralyzed the organization and contributed to Buffalo's continued struggles. In the end, however, Pegula had no choice but to find a new vision for the franchise.

The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline also believes that Kekalainen can make some much-needed changes in Buffalo. “He will go all in,” Portzline said on Tuesday on the latest episode of the WGR 550 Radio. He continued, “He is deeply analytical. I think he's an interesting mix of patience with passion, too.”

Portzline understands that Kekalainen’s mistakes in Columbus will allow him to do a better job with the Sabres. The insider is confident in the abilities of the new GM.

Jarmo Kekalainen won't waste time shaking up the Buffalo Sabres Roster

By all accounts, Kekalainen represents a front office leader in the exact opposite mold of Adams. The 59-year-old Finland native isn't going to stand idly by while the club embarks on a 13-game losing streak that destroys the entire season, as his predecessor did last year.

Kekalainen is going to swing for the fences, and it probably won't take long before he starts shaking things up. Buffalo has no shortage of low-impact players on the roster who can be moved to create space.

Jordan Greenway represents an obvious trade candidate, while the three-goalie nightmare needs to end quickly after Colten Ellis is cleared to return from concussion protocol. The Sabres also possess a potentially valuable trade chip in winger Alex Tuch.

Although the team's preference would be to keep the 29-year-old Syracuse native, Buffalo will have no choice but to move him if he's unwilling to sign a contract extension before the March trade deadline.

Tuch could represent the type of marquee deal that allows Kekalainen to bring in multiple pieces that match his vision for the franchise's new direction. The forward has proven himself as a consistent 20-goal scorer who brings two-way value, making him attractive to contending teams looking for depth scoring.

Ultimately, Sabres fans would love to witness playoff hockey in downtown Buffalo again. For now, they would probably settle for a series of moves that showcase a real plan. Concrete steps toward building a more competitive roster in the near future represent something Adams never accomplished across his five-plus years in charge.

Kekalainen's track record suggests he won't waste time making his presence felt. Whether those moves succeed remains to be seen, but the Sabres desperately need someone willing to take action rather than watch passively as another season slips away.

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