NHL insider believes if Buffalo Sabres make it to playoffs, GM Jarmo Kekalainen deserves all credit

The Buffalo Sabres have emerged as one of the NHL's most surprising stories this season. The franchise that owned last place in the Eastern Conference as recently as early December has steamrolled up the standings with its sights set on ending a 14-year playoff drought.

Buffalo has posted a remarkable 17-3-1 record over its past 21 games, including a 10-game winning streak. That surge began shortly before general manager Kevyn Adams was fired and replaced by Jarmo Kekalainen, raising an interesting question about who deserves credit for the turnaround.

Elliotte Friedman questions whether Sabres’ Kevyn Adams deserves GM of the year votes

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet raised eyebrows during the latest episode of his 32 Thoughts podcast. The veteran insider asked co-host Kyle Bukauskas a thought-provoking question about Adams potentially receiving recognition if Buffalo makes the playoffs.

"Can I just talk about Adams for a second? What if the Sabres make the playoffs? Does he get GM of the Year votes?" Friedman asked. The NHL insider pointed out several moves Adams made that have paid dividends during Buffalo's surge.

He acquired Josh Doan and Michael Kesselring from the Utah Mammoth in the blockbuster JJ Peterka trade over the summer. Doan just signed a seven-year contract extension with the Sabres.

Adams also sent prospect Matthew Savoie to Edmonton for Ryan McLeod, who has developed into one of the league's best third-line centers. Those moves have undeniably helped Buffalo's recent success. However, Friedman acknowledged the bizarre nature of the question.

"This, to me, is one of the weirdest phenomena ever," he said. "Are you going to tell me the Sabres turned around their season because they changed the general manager?" The answer appears to be yes, at least partially.

Kekalainen immediately brought a much-needed change of tone to the organization after replacing Adams in December. Tage Thompson recounted Kekalainen's first conversation with the locker room during an appearance on the Spittin' Chiclets podcast.

The new GM's message was crystal clear. "You are all pretty much all expendable, and no one is safe," Kekalainen told the team, according to Thompson. "We are going to start working, and if you don't want to work, you're not going to be on the team."

During Adams' time as head coach, the team became more and more complacent, even though they lost more than 13 games last season, which ruined the Sabres' last season.

If they make it to the playoffs this season, it will be because Kekalainen changed the way the organization works, head coach Lindy Ruff put his system into action, and the players responded to the new leadership.


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