Back in the general manager saddle, former Blue Jackets executive Jarmo Kekalainen has been promoted to the role of GM for the Buffalo Sabres, the team announced on Dec. 15.
Kekalainen served as the Blue Jackets’ general manager for 11 years before getting fired in February 2024. His Blue Jackets’ teams went 410-32-97 in 869 games, making him the longest-tenured and most successful general manager in team history.
The Sabres fired relieved GM Kevyn Adams of his duties and announced the move involving Kekalainen in the same statement. He had previously been serving a senior adviser in Buffalo.
The Sabres sit eighth in the Atlantic division with a 14-14-4 record. They match the Blue Jackets in points in the 2025 season.
Kekalainen was the first European-born GM in NHL history. He helped the Blue Jackets make the playoffs five times during his tenure.
