The Buffalo Sabres announced Monday they have fired general manager Kevyn Adams, who'd led the NHL organization's front office since June 2020.
Jarmo Kekalainen, the former Columbus Blue Jackets GM who joined the franchise as a senior advisor in May, will take over the role.
Sabres owner Terry Pegula's decision comes as the team is tied with the Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators for the fewest points in the Eastern Conference (32). The club's active 14-year playoff drought is the longest in league history.
"Kevyn Adams has been relieved of his duties as general manager of the Buffalo Sabres," Pegula said. "I would like to thank Kevyn for his dedication and loyalty to the Buffalo Sabres. He 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."
He added: "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."
Adams' tenure was headlined by the departures of cornerstone players, including Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart, and the first-time GM proved incapable of filling those massive voids.
"I have named Jarmo Kekalainen as general manager of the Buffalo Sabres and he will be overseeing hockey operations, effective immediately," Pegula said. "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. 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 wasn't afraid to make bold moves in Columbus, highlighted by the arrivals of marquee names like Artemi Panarin and Johnny Gaudreau, and Buffalo sports fans will hope he's set to make similar big swings to bring talent to Western New York.
"It is a great honor to be named general manager of the Buffalo Sabres," Kekalainen said. "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."
What's next for the Buffalo Sabres after firing general manager Kevyn Adams?
Adams was ridiculed early in his time as GM because players like Eichel and Reinhart went on to have high-end success with the Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers, respectively. That duo, which was supposed to lead Buffalo's turnaround, have combined to win three Stanley Cup titles.
The 51-year-old Washington, D.C. native, who grew up in the Buffalo area, seemingly became paralyzed by the fear of trading players who'd become superstars elsewhere.
It led to a mind-boggling lack of moves by the Sabres in recent years. The front office acted like the roster was perpetually one or two additions away from becoming a serious contender, and that was simply the farthest thing from the truth. The Blue and Gold were never close.
Adams built a strong relationship with Pegula, however, which gave him far more leeway than most first-time general managers. In the end, the team's owner had little choice but to finally start moving the organization in a new direction.
It shouldn't have taken this long to reach that conclusion, but it's better late than never.
Buffalo will likely give Kekalainen the remainder of the 2025-26 season to show what he can do with the roster, and the lack of an interim tag suggests he has a strong chance to maintain the role.
The most critical factor will be trying to reach an agreement with impending unrestricted free agent Alex Tuch on a contract extension. If that doesn't happen because the 2026 NHL trade deadline in March, trading the standout winger is the logical next step.
Depending on how things trend between now and the summer, the Sabres may decide to clean house completely, which would include the departure of head coach Lindy Ruff and his staff.
Buffalo was previously linked to former Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan as a possible leader of a new front office regime. Shanahan would presumably be allowed to choose his own GM and then work with that person to bring in a coaching staff.
A totally new vision with people from outside the organization would make sense for the Sabres, who have struggled mightily to turn a meaningful corner in the long-term rebuilding process.
For now, the Blue and Gold will attempt to make an unlikely surge toward the postseason. They are six points behind both third place in the Atlantic Division and the final wild-card spot in the East, giving them two potential paths to ending the playoff drought.
Even if the Sabres' pursuit falls short this season, the departure of Adams will create optimism within the fanbase that better days are on the horizon.