Sabres fire Adams, Kekalainen named GM — The Fourth Period
The Buffalo Sabres have fired General Manager Kevyn Adams and have named Jarmo Kekalainen the club’s new GM effective immediately.
“We are not where we need to be as an organization, and we are moving forward with new leadership within our hockey operations department,” Sabres Owner and President Terry Pegula said. “We are dedicated to building an organization that is competitive year after year, and we have fallen short of that expectation.
“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 was previously named Senior Advisor for the Sabres on May 30. He will oversee all aspects of the Sabres’ hockey operations. The 2025-26 season will mark his first in the role and 28th working in an NHL front office.
“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.”
A native of Kuopio, Finland, Kekalainen spent parts of 12 seasons as GM of the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2013 to 2024, becoming the first European-born GM in NHL history.
During his tenure, Columbus reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs five times, set a franchise record with 50 wins and 108 points in 2016-17, and captured the organization’s first playoff series win with a first-round sweep of Tampa Bay in 2019.
