Jarmo Kekalainen sends subtle hint to the Buffalo Sabres locker room

Finding consistent success in the NHL requires a commitment that extends well beyond what happens at the rink.

That's the point Buffalo Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen tried to hammer home during a conversation with Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic while praising breakout winger Jack Quinn for getting "stronger," which has helped him attack the most dangerous areas of the ice more effectively:

"I hope that everybody in our locker room that still could take it a little bit more seriously or put a little bit more commitment into that side of things, sees the results that some of these guys that have had 100 percent buy-in have done with their careers. Because, as I said, I'm a huge believer in that side. I say it's easy if it's in your control, but at the same time, it's not that easy because it takes discipline and a lot of desire to do the stuff. It's not sometimes in your comfort zone or fun zone."

Sabres GM Jarmo Kekalainen

Quinn showed some promising signs last season en route to a career-high 51 points (20 goals and 31 assists), but it was clear from the moment the 25-year-old Canadian stepped on the ice at training camp that he'd put in a lot of work over the summer.

The 2020 first-round pick showcased a vastly improved compete level, something that ebbed and flowed for him over his first five NHL seasons, and his strength on the puck has increased exponentially. That's made him a machine when it comes to creating high-danger chances.

Most goals at hockey's highest level (at least a majority of non-Connor McDavid tallies) aren't of the highlight-reel variety. It's not dangling around all five defenders before making the goaltender look silly. It's driving to the inner slot and not being afraid to take a little punishment to make a play.

Quinn is now doing that constantly, which has allowed him to rack up 16 points (nine goals and seven assists) in 17 games. Tage Thompson (10) is the only other Sabres player with more than four goals as the team's offense has sputtered in the season's early stages.

At least a portion of those woes stems from a young forward group still learning what it takes to start stacking points at the NHL level.

Kekalainen has probably made similar comments about the off-ice dedication necessary to find on-ice success behind closed doors, but saying it publicly sends a clear message, especially as a lot of youthful Buffalo contributors try to establish a firm foothold in the organization.

Quinn is a budding success story but the Sabres need more players to step up.

Sabres' Jack Quinn is trending toward a massive raise as a restricted free agent

The breakthrough is coming at a perfect moment for Quinn, who's scheduled to become an RFA next offseason.

Buffalo will have to decide whether to opt for a short-term bridge deal — the right-shot winger has two more years of team control before potential UFA eligibility in 2029 — or to make a lucrative bet that his uptick in production is sustainable as part of a long-term extension.

Either way, it won't be cheap.

If Quinn can maintain his early scoring pace and the Sabres decide to pursue a seven-year, max-length extension, you're likely looking at a salary that eclipses the $10 million mark. That's quite a raise from his current $3.375 million AAV.

That's why it's crucial for Kekalainen to decide whether they believe the 6-foot forward's vastly improved play is legit, or whether there's reason to think the previously enigmatic middle-sixer could struggle to maintain a 40-, or even 30-, goal pace in the future.

A bridge agreement would hit the pocketbook a little less hard, but it'd also create a wider range of outcomes as his UFA years approached. As the Sabres found out with Alex Tuch, there aren't any guarantees once the open market is within reach.

For now, it'll probably be a waiting game. Kekalainen and Co. will almost certainly want to see a larger sample size of high-end success from Quinn before giving him the type of contract a potential 40-goal scorer would command.

The Sabres (8-6-3) are back in action Wednesday night when the host the Atlantic Division rival Tampa Bay Lightning (11-4-2) at the KeyBank Center.

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