This is Jarmo Kekalainen as an Ottawa Senator. Kekalainen has had an interesting career dating back to his junior days. The Finn (he played LW) suited up in the Finnish league at 19 and 20 for Ilves Tampere, and then did what most Finn kids do: spent two seasons playing for Clarkson (NCAA).His unusual career path also included free agent signings with Boston (1989) and Ottawa (1993). He would be a star for the Senators, but not on the ice. Kekalainen gained a reputation (after his playing career) for being a very capable judge of hockey talent.
During the time he was the Senators European scout the club drafted Marian Hossa and Martin Havlat. Once elevated to the scouting director's job, Kekalainen's three season output in the position netted the club names like Jason Spezza, Ray Emery, Brooks Laich, Antoine Vermette, Anton Volchenkov and Greg Zanon.
After moving over to St. Louis in fall 2002, Kekalainen was at the forefront of a strong amateur procurement department. Among the names announced by the team 2003-2009 were David Backes, Lee Stempniak, Roman Polak, TJ Oshie, Erik Johnson, Patrik Berglund, Lars Eller, Ian Cole, David Perron, Alex Pietrangelo and David Rundblad.
Kekalainen is leaving the Blues organization. The information is here. Kekalainen says all the right things and don't doubt that family comes first for him (there's a strong call home for the European players and there's no reason to believe it would be any different for executives). Still, I do think that some of this is probably shrapnel from Kekalainen getting passed over for the GM job (Blues hired Doug Armstrong to replace Pleau).
Here's what we know for sure: the opportunity came together quickly and Kekalainen gets out of his St. Louis deal a couple of years early. He's GM of an SM-LIIGA team beginning this summer and that will no doubt take a great deal of attention for two or three years. He still expresses an interest in being an NHL General Manager and the new gig is something he's done before (Kekalainen simultaneously served as Ottawa's European draft guru IFK Helsinki’s general manager in the Finnish Elite League from 1995 to 1999, guiding the club to the league championship in 1998).
I think he'll be back.
Sounds like the type who really has chops for the game.
ReplyDeleteWhy oh why don't Oilers get a few of these guys?
@hunter 1909 Stu Magregor
ReplyDeleteYou know, it's funny you mention Jarmo. He's the one guy I always wish the Oilers would consider. If nothing else, he has an undeniable eye for talent. I was quite disappointed when he signed with STL.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if/how much the Euro stigma keeps him from getting a head job somewhere.
hunter - Because they aren't looking for any.
ReplyDeleteNobody is as smart as The Boys on the Bus.
Deano: Especially the ones with 6 rings, right?
ReplyDeleteLT - Is this a way out prediction if Tambo Fails?
ReplyDeletebookie: If Tambo fails or when Tambo fails?
ReplyDeleteIt's a point I've made to the point of sounding strident: in a cap world spending wisely on the margins can make a difference.
ReplyDeleteIn this case, why wouldn't Katz throw the bank at Jarmo?
I remember watching the NHL network which aired a draft special behind the scenes of the Erik Johnson / Jonathan Toews draft. St.Louis had the 1st overall pick and camera were in the boardroom during their draft decisions and draft day.
ReplyDeleteI remember one of their draft guys were obsessing about David Perron, and another guy was being very flippant about the idea of grabbing him.
I'd love to watch that again, because the guy that wanted him was money. I seem to recall the other guy being a bit of a dick about it.
Not sure what the scouts names were though.
Excellent thought. At the risk of sounding ignorant has their ever been a European guy running the show in the NHL before?
ReplyDeletejdrevenge: I don't believe so. There was a brief flirtation with Euro head coaches in Pittsburgh and Chicago, but not GMs. And even the head coach thing died a quick death.
ReplyDeleteHis name is also one of Pierre McGuire's favorite things to say. Every year I watch the draft, and it always makes me laugh how many times McGuire says his name.
ReplyDeleteBeing a good judge of talent isn't enough to be a good GM. A guy also has to have the business chops to manage a $60M budget. It's easy for us to look at the guys' resume at the draft and assume he is ready for the job, but if he can't for the life of him divide up the bill at dinner, would you hand him to the keys to the payroll? Not that I'm saying that's the case here, but we just don't know.
ReplyDeleteDale Tallon picked up Versteeg and Sharp for spare parts while drafting a bunch of talented guys but he also doled out a handful of very poor UFA contracts that are going to tear the Hawks apart this summer.
If you can't find it in one guy, I'd be happy to partner a talent evaluator like Jarmo with a sharp business mind who can handle the numbers side, but IMO talent evaluation is at most 50% of the job.
Probably less, if you consider how long Harry Sinden and Bob Pulford were the GM or more-or-less the GM of the Bruins and Hawks, respectively.
ReplyDeletesounds like we should pay attention to who he signs back home and use it as a potential pipeline.
ReplyDelete"Being a good judge of talent isn't enough to be a good GM. A guy also has to have the business chops to manage a $60M budget. It's easy for us to look at the guys' resume at the draft and assume he is ready for the job, but if he can't for the life of him divide up the bill at dinner, would you hand him to the keys to the payroll? "
ReplyDeleteCould not agree with you more Boondock .........explain to me again how Klowe got the keys to the car....... forgot...those 6 Cup rings as a player...... I was patient once...guess I am qualified to be a surgeon
Everybody's got their holes, and as the saying goes, all ya gotta do is know who can play. Everybody else you can hire.
ReplyDeleteThere's no evidence that he can't do the other things either.
Has anyone seen this article about Hossa ?
ReplyDeleteHossa Stats
It talks about his agent pre-shopping with permission prior to July 1 and the use of stats to target specific teams. Not in depth, but interesting nonetheless.
Sounds like he'd make a perfect candidate for our vacant Assistant GM position.
ReplyDeleteEye for talent (possibly for the farm team)? Check
Aspirations to climb the ladder and knock Humpty Dumpty off his wall? Check
Pipeline to Europe? Check
A draft day Savant? Check-mate.
OT: i think stevie Y in tampa will maybe open it up as a trading partner what with the team Canada connection.
ReplyDeleteLecavalier-Hall-Hemsky
ReplyDeleteOh yea.
@reg
ReplyDeletereally cool article.
Are you hoping he'll be buddy buddy with Frank Musil?
ReplyDeleteThis might be old news for some.
ReplyDeletePeter Berg did a tremendous documentary on the Gretzky trade called "Kings Ransom". Mandatory viewing for any Edmontonian or Oiler fan. Great stuff.
Part 1 of 5 on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBcHPr8ggnU
From an espn.com article on "The Great Queries of the Combine"
ReplyDeleteTaylor Hall, LW, Windsor (OHL)
"When can you start?"
It should be the question that only Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins scouts will ask because they're the only teams that have a shot at drafting him. The Oilers at No. 1 desperately need someone who can give their team some immediate help. Hall isn't just the most talented player in the draft, but also the one most ready to play next winter in the NHL. If the Oilers make a mistake and opt for Tyler Seguin, then the Bruins will count their blessings. If Hall does land with the Bruins as part of the draft proceeds of their sending Phil Kessel to Toronto, they'll come away with a turbo-charged, fearless, heart-and-soul, clutch version of Kessel.
I'm really curious why they think we need someone who can provide immediate help?
ReplyDelete"Goddammit, Stu, we need to draft the guy who can get us to the playoff bubble as soon as possible! IT HAS TO BE DOWNTOWN."
Haha Quain,
ReplyDeleteGold Jerry.. Gold...
I don't get the rush either. They're not going anywhere next season anyway. I'm all for a developmental season and getting a shot at Larsson.
ReplyDeleteWhat's better, a team with Hall, or a team with Hall AND Larsson =D. I could care less about who's more ready to help now, I want who'll help more long term.
Factor out immediate needs and pressure from the fan base. You gotta live with the results for a decade. Even the fans are 60/40 in the current CHED poll.
ReplyDeleteI don't get the rush either. They're not going anywhere next season anyway. I'm all for a developmental season and getting a shot at Larsson.
ReplyDeleteWhat's better, a team with Hall, or a team with Hall AND Larsson =D. I could care less about who's more ready to help now, I want who'll help more long term.
That's all and well but the chances of the Oilers getting the first overall pick again are likely extremely minuscule.
I'd be surprised if they end up in the lottery.
Immediate help seems bizarre.
ReplyDeleteUnless there are season ticket and arena issues pressuring the decision.
Which would be incredibly dumb.
That's all and well but the chances of the Oilers getting the first overall pick again are likely extremely minuscule.
ReplyDeleteI'd be surprised if they end up in the lottery.
Odds of ending in the lottery: 5/30 therefore 1/6 so 16.7%
Odds of the first overall pick: 1/30 or 3.34%.
...Yeah. I've got nothing productive to do, so I'm playing with fractions.
In other news, Zucarello-Ansen signs with the Rangers.
Not a huge Hawks fan, but was reading about them today and apparently a lot of them played in the AHL together.
ReplyDeleteLike hey Tambo, how's about sticking these young prospects in the AHL, so they can all grow up together as a team next season?
WTF is the alternative, other than rushing them and screwing up their development?
Dorito, by that logic the Oilers have:
ReplyDeleteChances of making the playoffs, 16/30 or 53.33%
Chances of winning the Stanley Cup, 1/30 or 3.34%
The flaws are obvious, but I like those odds a heckuva lot more than what they really are =). As for Larsson, the Oilers are just a few lucky injuries from the lottery again ;). If so, and they pull off a draft lottery win and grab Larsson, can we call it the Washington model?
Immediate help aside, the ESPN article also talked about Hall as the most talented player in the draft.
ReplyDeleteI was talking to a guy from out of town last night about the debate around here regarding who to pick, and he asked why in the world they would ever consider not taking Hall when he's got the most talent, a winning attitude and is now a two-time Memorial Cup MVP.
My "some people think it's better to take the Centre" comeback left both of us scratching our heads.
My "some people think it's better to take the Centre" comeback left both of us scratching our heads.
ReplyDeleteDid you leave out the part where some people think it's better to take the centre when there is no consensus among scouts as to which will be the superior player over the course of his career?
Or, discuss how the
ReplyDelete"now a two-time Memorial Cup MVP"
way of thinking
got the Oilers stuck with the drunken goalie with a bad back
for 4 years?
and he asked why in the world they would ever consider not taking Hall when he's got the most talent, a winning attitude and is now a two-time Memorial Cup MVP.
ReplyDeleteWho says he has the most talent (besides "a guy from out of town")?
Hall has a winning team. His attitude towards his teammates has been questioned.
And look at the Memorial Cup MVP list, its hardly a confirmation of future NHL employment.
The reality is that if Seguin had played for the Spitfires the last two weeks, he likely would have been MVP and topping fan polls.
The flavour of the month should not be the basis for the #1 selection.
"The reality is that if Seguin had played for the Spitfires the last two weeks, he likely would have been MVP and topping fan polls."
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's just me, but I'd rather the Oilers analyze actual reality than hypothetical reality when they make this choice.
commonfan:
ReplyDeleteThis is the team remember, that drafted down in order to select M.A. Pouliot over Zach Parise - the reason spouted by Lowe at the time was something like "We liked the way he played night after night for a losing team".
It's no wonder people are nervous.
Commonfan, why cant you look at that argument? it is pretty straightforward and a logical substitution scenario..
ReplyDeletewhy? because it is a good counter argument.. (coming from fan swooning over the shinny glare of *MVP*)
The Whalers were not a losing team or a stacked team... rather, a team propped up on the shoulders of one talented prospect...
ReplyDeleteWhat's being discussed goes a lot deeper than the merits of Seguin over Hall/Hall over Seguin.
ReplyDeleteIt's more about the fundamental philosophy between the club that makes itself a perennial league laughing stock from chasing reluctant UFA's, drafting from perceived need instead of actual talent of the players, and maxing the team to the cap with a series of patently insane contract overpays to second and third rate players.
Ignoring Taylor Hall's obvious strengths to go for the proverbial bird in the bush perpetuates the organisational disaster that's the Lowebellini Oilers.
That's what this discussion is really about.
If a big thing that makes Centres more valuable is that they can have a more significant impact on the guys around them, has it been demonstrated that Seguin made his teammates better last year?
ReplyDeleteI've seen it argued here that he basically played with adequate to semi-terrible players last year and still had success - but shouldn't he have made those guys look good if he's a great Centre?
Did anyone he played with dramatically improve?
I don't know for sure, but a quick glance over the top-80 OHL regular season scoring leaders didn't reveal anyone on his team making a monster jump this year.
If Hall is a rich man's Smyth... is there an NHL comparable for a rich man's Smyth? a poor man's Ovechkin?
ReplyDeletehas it been demonstrated that Seguin made his teammates better last year?
ReplyDeleteIt's tough to say. The only guy I know who was on Seguin's line was AJ Jenks (I have no idea who his other winger was).
Jenks had a pretty good year, scoring 63 points in 52 games. Last year (Seguin's rookie year), he had 52 points in 60 games where he may, or may not have played with Seguin. The year before that he had 55 points in 68 games (definitely not with Seguin). He's shown an improvement for sure, but I don't know how much more than you would normally expect a 19 year old to have improved from his 17 and 18 year old seasons. Jenks also looked terrific at the WJC where he wouldn't have been playing with Seguin.
One argument against taking Hall?
ReplyDeleteIt could potentially lead to the Oil having a first line someday made up entirely of guys with girl-sounding names.
Could get embarrassing if other fans started calling a Taylor Hall-Sam Gagner-Jordan Eberle unit "The Chick Line."
Hunter, so your argument is that the Oilers should to the logical thing and draft the guy ranked #2 overall with the #1 pick?
ReplyDeleteIf they pick the guy ranked #1 overall that somehow demonstrates that they are idiots?
Sorry, what?
Commonfan: How about him getting rammed up good by teenagers? What will happen when he faces real men?
ReplyDeletebook;ie:
ReplyDeleteFrom what I've read most scouts and organisations and respected hockey journalists and all the rest think Hall is the better pick - therefore central scouting ranking Seguin first seems to go against the majority.
Feel better now?
What's being discussed goes a lot deeper than the merits of Seguin over Hall/Hall over Seguin.
ReplyDeleteHuh?
So when Stu makes the pick he should consider the past history of the organization, who the fans want etc?
Or should he just look at who will be the better player?
He is not running for office. If you are approaching it from the position that everything that TambiLowe does is wrong, well then this decision will be wrong too -
oh, unless you agree with it. Then it will be a good move. See the problem with that logic?
Honestly Hunter, how many times have you seen Seguin play that would give you such strong feelings?
Could get embarrassing if other fans started calling a Taylor Hall-Sam Gagner-Jordan Eberle unit "The Chick Line."
ReplyDeleteAles got demoted?
Ales got demoted?
ReplyDeleteAlice? What the hell kind of hockey player name is Alice? When Warren Zevon hears about this, heads will roll.
How about we try it this way,
ReplyDeleteFor Hall's fans
What would Boston have to give us to get you to think we should take Seguin and let Hall fall to Boston?
For me, much as I'd take Hall, I'd pass if Boston gave me Colborne and Wheeler.
The way I figure it we should just bring on Taylor Hall (Memorial Cup MVP 2x), Jordan Eberle (World Junior MVP, CHL Player of the Year) and MPS (World Senior All-Star), put 'em together on a line, and start planning the parade route.
ReplyDeleteSo what if they'd be the Donut Line (no centre), if you keep packing in those BPAs they'll figure it out among themselves and we're laughing. Right?
"Honestly Hunter, how many times have you seen Seguin play that would give you such strong feelings?"
ReplyDeleteNever. Not even once.
I'm just pistol whipped by this organisation's incompetance, and wearily although not happily expect more of the same bullshit in future.
Seguin might be a wonderful player. I don't have a clue. It's not my responsibility either.
The problem is, i seriously doubt whether or not the Oilers know who's the best player either, and they're supposed to be the ones who do know.
And that's my problem with this team - everything they do seems to turn to shite. It's a last place team, and it wasn't a fluke that they ended up in 30th place.
For me, much as I'd take Hall, I'd pass if Boston gave me Colborne and Wheeler.
ReplyDeleteLinnaeus: Now you're talking. I can't imagine Boston would offer both Colborne and Wheeler, maybe either/either. But that's one offer we at least have to consider. Given the separation between the top two and the rest, I can't support trading down further than #2. But to parlay the situation into Seguin and another good young player would be alright.
When I read these unbelievable suggestions that Oilers trade down, simply for some Boston castoffs, it makes me feel embarassed to even be a fan of this team.
ReplyDeleteGenerally speaking, I can't stand most Oilers fans.
"The scouting combine ranked Seguin #1 (Number One). How does that reflect the Oilers' incompetence, exactly?"
ReplyDeleteFucked if I know.
FPB:
ReplyDeleteDidn't you hear, the NHL is cleaning up dirty hits.
So no worries.
Seriously though, I do wonder whether the big hits thing with Hall is getting overplayed. We've seen a bunch of them, yes, but he's been the highest-profile Junior player the last year so we see more of everything that happens with him.
That said, the whole management group needs to be fired if they pick him without giving him a CAT scan before the draft.
Taylor Hall.
ReplyDeleteOr Seguin plus that 2011 Toronto pick.
Personally, Seguin plus David Musil (I'm assuming he's top 10 next draft and this pick would very likely provide the Oilers with TWO top 10 in 2011) makes a ton of sense to an organization re-building.
A hockey team is what is known as a high dimension environment. Simply put, there are so many ways of losing or winning a game that there is no guarantee the best team will win any given game. MacT's coaching in the Detroit series is a classic example of how simple, unexpected changes, can lead to odd outcomes. The best teams tend to win because they can deploy more resources. The question is how to most increase the number of resources the Oilers can deploy and the number of battlefields they can contest.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't suggesting we trade down. We keep first and just don't pick Hall. In return we keep building our prospect base. The team with the richest talent pool tends to excel over the long haul. Seguin and Hall are currently ranked #1 and #2 by scouts, minimally it is too close to call, so if we can leverage not taking Hall into Seguin and an impact NHL player we have maximized the opportunity. Wheeler/Colborne aren't castoffs. Colborne is developing into the best player in US College hockey and Wheeler has real upside as a, what is LT calls them, "real NHL player".
I like Hall because the kid is fun to watch and as a fan that is important to me. The math says the two kids are nearly equal, Seguin actually has a small edge over time. So if Boston really wants Hall I say go for it and maximize your return.
If Boston wants to give us Toronto's first next year I am good with that for the exact same reason. The goal is more horses for more courses.
Seguin might be a wonderful player. I don't have a clue. It's not my responsibility either.
ReplyDeleteAre you fully admitting that you have no knowledge of the issue at all, but still hold a strong opinion on it?
Are you fully admitting that you have no knowledge of the issue at all, but still hold a strong opinion on it?
ReplyDeleteKinda puts his long-running "Taylor Hall is Gordie Howe/Tyler Seguin is Gord Mark" schtick into perspective, no?
"I don't have a clue. (And) It's not my responsibility either."
ReplyDeleteHahaha, no offense hunter but i am assuming you were kinda tippsy this afternoon.. This combo line is f'n hilarious...
So, for the draft for need crowd, is MPS pushing away the need for another LW?
Draft by position? Hmm. We're certainly looking for a Top 6 forward, so arguably somebody to replace one of these guys:
ReplyDeletePenner - Horcoff - Hemsky
MPS - Gagner - Eberle
... in the murky depth chart of the present/future. If you have reason to think Penner and/or Hemsky are gonna walk in two years then maybe that changes the equation in favour of the winger. If on the other hand you think Horcoff is the ideal 3C, maybe that changes things the other way.
It's not going to be an easy choice.
Bruce: Seems to me the only guy in that top six who's not possibly going to be there (Well in the top six) is Horcoff.
ReplyDeleteAnd i think everyone here knows how i feel with him being N1 C.
hunter 1909 wrote: Not a huge Hawks fan, but was reading about them today and apparently a lot of them played in the AHL together.
ReplyDeleteLike hey Tambo, how's about sticking these young prospects in the AHL, so they can all grow up together as a team next season?
WTF is the alternative, other than rushing them and screwing up their development?
The Oilers could draft Hall/Seguin, send him back to the OHL, sign Paajarvi and send him back to Timra or the AHL, send Eberle to the AHL for a bit until he "earns" it.
But maybe they think they can get 60 goals out of the three of Eberle, Paajarvi, Hall or Seguin on the second and third lines, being sheltered by a first line of 27-10-83? Maybe they think, for these 3 players specifically, not necessarily for the average "good prospect", they will develop better at the NHL level than they would at the AHL level?
Some might point to Cogliano and Gagner as mishandled, rushed players, but which of these 3 are behind either Cogliano at 20 and Gagner at 18?:
Hall/Seguin at 18?
Paajarvi at 19?
Eberle at 20?
FPB: I happen to think Horcoff is the ideal third centre, albeit a very expensive one. But in terms of what you require from the position - call it "second power" if you prefer - he's got the skill set, he just needs better wingers than JFJ and POS.
ReplyDeleteSo I'm not uncomfortable with the idea of drafting a young hotshot pivot to play offensive minutes along with Gagner.