Sabres dismiss GM Kevyn Adams amid ongoing playoff struggles.

Buffalo Sabers Part Ways with General Manager Kevin Adams

Kevin Adams is no longer the right person to lead the Sabers towards a brighter future.

As of Monday’s game, Buffalo sits tied for last in the Eastern Conference, holding a 14-14-4 record, leading to the decision to fire its general manager. This change comes as the team looks to break a lengthy 15-season playoff drought.

“We are not where we need to be as an organization, and we are moving forward with new leadership within hockey operations,” said team owner Terry Pegula. “We are committed to building a competitive organization every year, but we have fallen short of those expectations.”

Former Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen, who joined the Sabers as an advisor back in May, is stepping into the role Adams held for the past five years. Notably, he will be the fifth person to assume the GM position since the Pegula family acquired the NHL franchise in 2011.

The switch occurs amid increasing frustration from fans over the past couple of years, with “Fire Adams” chants echoing around the KeyBank Center.

The 51-year-old, originally from Buffalo and a former NHL player, faced backlash last year after discussing the team’s struggles to attract star players. He had commented, “You have to earn it,” explaining that being a constant playoff contender would help change perceptions about the team. Fans responded with an inflatable palm tree at games, a clear jab at his remarks.

During his tenure, Adams posted a record of 178-196-42.

Now, there’s a sense of hope that Kekalainen can turn things around. He has the distinction of being the NHL’s first European-born general manager and previously succeeded in bringing prominent players like Artemi Panarin and Johnny Gaudreau to Columbus.

In his statement, Kekalainen expressed, “It is a great honor to be named general manager of the Buffalo Sabers. I would like to thank Terry and Kim Pegula for this opportunity. I am honored to be stewards of this team and look forward to experiencing the passion Sabers fans bring to every game.”