The Buffalo Sabres have built a deep, experienced front office since Jarmo Kekalainen took over as general manager in December, so they can expect rival organizations to frequently look in their direction as openings emerge around the NHL.
Another example arrived this week as the Detroit Red Wings began seeking a replacement for Steve Yzerman, who suddenly transitioned into an advisory role for the franchise.
On Thursday, Max Bultman of The Athletic named three members of the Sabres front office as potential targets for Wings owner Chris Ilitch as part of his search: associate GM Marc Bergevin, associate GM Josh Flynn and VP of hockey strategy and research Sam Ventura.
Bergevin was Kekalainen's first addition to his staff after taking over the role from Kevyn Adams. The former NHL defenseman previously spent nine years as general manager of the Montreal Canadiens (2012-21). He's also spent time with the Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings in front-office roles.
"Like [Brendan] Shanahan, Bergevin could make a lot of sense as a president overseeing a younger general manager," Bultman wrote.
Flynn spent 12 years as a Columbus Blue Jackets executive (2013-25), much of that time overlapping Kekalainen's tenure as the club's GM (2013-24). He's also worked as an NHL player agent.
Ventura is the leader of the Sabres' analytics department. He's worked for Buffalo since 2021, when he departed a similar role with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
It'll be interesting to see whether Detroit may attempt a double Buffalo heist. The Wings could hire Bergevin as their president of hockey operations and Ventura as general manager, giving the 38-year-old Pennsylvania native a little veteran oversight in a more prominent role.
The Red Wings didn't provide a timetable for their search to find Yzerman's successor.
Buffalo Sabres further bolstered their front office by hiring John Davidson
Perhaps sensing their executive ranks were filled with people who could receive promotions into larger roles with other franchises, the Sabres continued to add well-known names to their front office on Monday with the hiring of John Davidson as a senior advisor.
The 73-year-old Canadian is a hockey lifer. He was the fifth overall pick in the 1973 NHL Draft, spending time with the St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers. He then spent more than two decades as a broadcaster before getting hired as Blues president in 2006.
Davidson served in that capacity until 2012 and proceeded to serve in the same role with the Columbus Blue Jackets (2012-19) and Rangers (2019-2021). He returned to Columbus as president in 2021 and transitioned to senior advisor in 2024.
"I am thrilled to welcome John Davidson to the Sabres as a senior advisor," Kekalainen said. "John and I have a strong working relationship that we have developed over many years. His experience leading multiple organizations, combined with his player evaluation skills and relationships around the NHL make him a great fit for this role. He will lend his expertise and guidance to all areas within the hockey department as we aim to continue to improve our club."
Davidson added: "The momentum in Buffalo is palpable throughout the entire league and the passion from Sabres fans makes this opportunity all the more exciting."
He could move into a more formal role if Bergevin or Flynn are hired by the Red Wings.
Having so much NHL know-how in the front office is a sharp contrast for the Sabres from the Adams Era, which featured an inexperienced GM leading an undersized staff.
They're all valuable resources to Kekalainen, who's currently navigating a tricky offseason that's so far been headlined by the departures of Alex Tuch and Bowen Byram. The club hasn't made any high-end additions, though it's been linked to Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck and future Hockey Hall of Famer Patrick Kane, a Buffalo native.
Meanwhile, the Sabres' front office is now well-positioned to handle the potential loss of an executive (or two) to another organization, either now to Detroit or at some point during the 2026-27 season.
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