If there is smoke in Buffalo, there is usually a fire that has been smoldering for over a decade. According to a bombshell report from Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic, the Buffalo Sabres are finally holding internal discussions about replacing General Manager Kevyn Adams.
Let’s be honest: this conversation is overdue. Since taking the reins in 2020, Adams has overseen a tenure defined by patience that has yielded zero results. The Sabres haven’t tasted the playoffs since 2011—a drought that defies statistical probability. With the team currently sitting dead last in the Eastern Conference and Adams traveling on a pivotal six-game road trip, the writing is on the wall. The “perpetual rebuild” has lost the room, and the fanbase deserves a pivot. The most intriguing part? The solution is likely already on the payroll.
Jarmo Kekalainen joined the Sabres in May as a senior advisor, a move that many insiders viewed as a safety net for ownership. Now, that safety net looks like the succession plan. While Adams has been criticized for being too cautious, Kekalainen is known for his aggressive, swing-for-the-fences mentality.
Why Jarmo Kekalainen is the Logical Heir to the Sabres’ GM Throne
Kekalainen brings a résumé that Adams simply lacks. During his 11 seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets, he built the franchise’s most successful era, including four consecutive playoff appearances. He isn’t afraid to make the hard calls—remember the “all-in” trade deadline of 2019? That is the kind of killer instinct Buffalo has been missing.
Sure, the Blue Jackets struggled toward the end of his tenure, leading to his firing in early 2024, but context matters. Kekalainen drafted the core that Columbus relies on today, including Zach Werenski and Adam Fantilli. Even in his down years, his teams generally outperformed the Sabres.
The timing here is critical. The Sabres have massive decisions looming before the March 6 trade deadline. Key players like Alex Tuch (approaching UFA status) and restricted free agents Josh Doan and Zach Benson need contract resolutions. If the Sabres are going to be sellers—again—you want a GM in place who understands asset management at an elite level, not a lame-duck executive.
Kekalainen is currently in Finland attending to personal matters, but if Pegula makes the call, expect him to step in either temporarily or permanently. Buffalo needs a culture shock. Moving from the polite patience of Kevyn Adams to the calculated aggression of Jarmo Kekalainen might be the shock to the system this franchise desperately needs to wake up.
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