What’s the outlook for the Buffalo Sabres now, and so they still have hope to increase Alex Tuch
Mike Harrington: Alex Tuch on his contract situation: “I feel Jarmo was in somewhat of the negotiations before, so he’s conversant in what was occurring. Just gonna let my agent handle it and that’s it. I just stay out of it. I just worry about playing hockey.”
Mike Harrington: Tuch on Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen on his now “taking charge” to contract extension done: “Which means rather a lot coming from him. I don’t know what’s going to occur. That’s completely as much as him and my agent. And once I should be filled in on anything, I’ll be filled in.”
NHL Network: Elliotte Friedman, on the Buffalo Sabres now that Jarmo Kekalainen is taking on for Kevyn Adams as GM, and the way the Sabres actually need to increase Alex Tuch. Can recent GM Jarmo Kekalainen get a deal done?
** NHLRumors.com transcription
Mike Rupp: “Buffalo Sabres, Jarmo Kekalainen being hired because the General Manager. So what’s the outlook here, moving forward, for Buffalo?
Friedman: “Well, considered one of the more interesting things about his media conference yesterday, Michael, was that he said he’s still thinks he could make, they will make the playoffs this yr. And you recognize what the chances are against them, they’re down at the underside of the Eastern Conference and there’s plenty of teams in between, in between them, in that second wild card spot.
But someone said to me, that’s strategic. And the explanation that strategic is because Kekalainen believes that once you have a look at that roster on paper, they’re ok to be a playoff team. They’ve plenty of skill. They’re good down the center, especially when Norris is healthy. They’ve got some goaltending. They’ve got good D.
And that they feel the largest issue that they’ve is that they are usually not competitive enough. And that on nights where they will’t outskill their opponents, they don’t win enough games. And I feel what he’s difficult them is to say, look, ‘I, if you must stay here and you must be long-term with this team, you’ve got to prove to me which you can compete.’ And I feel he desires to see, can they compete.
And I’ll say this too, I feel his quotes about Tuch were legitimate. I feel he wants to maintain him. It’s a challenge. Like I heard there was an enormous, big gap between what Kevyn Adams was offering on the time and what Tuch wanted. But I’ve heard it’s legit that they do wish to try to maintain him. So it should be interesting to see what other decisions the Sabres may need to make in the event that they do jump up and keep Tuch.”
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