Buffalo, N.Y. – In a significant shakeup for the Buffalo Sabres, the team announced today the dismissal of General Manager Kevyn Adams and the immediate appointment of Jarmo Kekalainen as his replacement. Kekalainen, who previously served as a senior advisor to Adams, steps into the role with immediate effect, overseeing all hockey operations.
The decision to relieve Adams of his duties comes a little over two months into his sixth season as GM. Despite a recent three-game winning streak, the Sabres find themselves near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, jeopardizing their chances of ending the franchise's long-standing playoff drought, which currently stands at 14 years.
Sabres owner Terry Pegula expressed his gratitude to Adams for his dedication and loyalty to the organization. "Kevyn has been a reliable presence, and we are appreciative of his enduring care and commitment. I personally wish him and his entire family all the best," Pegula stated. However, Pegula also emphasized the need for change, stating, "We are not where we need to be as an organization, and we are moving forward with new leadership within our hockey operations department…We are dedicated to building an organization that is competitive year after year, and we have fallen short of that expectation".
Kekalainen's promotion follows what Pegula described as "an extensive search process" that ultimately led to his hiring as a senior advisor in May 2025. "The hiring of Jarmo was the result of an extensive search process in which Jarmo stood out as our top choice for the senior advisor position," Pegula explained. "Jarmo has distinguished himself over the last eight months, and his experience, professionalism, and drive speaks for itself. I am looking forward to him leading our organization to the next level".
Kekalainen brings a wealth of experience to the Sabres, having previously served as the General Manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets for 11 years (2013-2024), becoming the first European-born GM in NHL history. During his tenure in Columbus, the Blue Jackets made five playoff appearances and, in 2019, achieved their first-ever playoff series win by sweeping the Tampa Bay Lightning. He was let go by the Blue Jackets in February 2024.
"It is a great honor to be named general manager of the Buffalo Sabres," said Kekalainen. "I would like to extend my thanks to Terry and Kim Pegula for this opportunity. I am humbled to be the steward of this team and look forward to experiencing the passion that Sabres fans bring to every game".
Adams' tenure as Sabres GM began in June 2020 when he replaced Jason Botterill. He faced criticism for his management of team assets, failing to secure a franchise goalie, and not addressing the team's leadership void. The Sabres finished last in the overall standings four times during their playoff drought and never ranked higher than 19th.
Kekalainen's immediate challenge will be to revitalize a team that has struggled to find consistency and success in recent years. The Sabres are currently 14-14-4 and sit in eighth place in the Atlantic Division. His experience in building a competitive team in Columbus offers hope for a turnaround in Buffalo, where fans are eager to see their team return to playoff contention.
It is worth noting that Kekalainen is currently in his native Finland on personal leave following the death of his father, Kari, on Sunday after a long illness. As a result, a formal press conference to introduce Kekalainen is not expected in the immediate future.
