Sitting tied for final within the Japanese Convention, the Buffalo Sabres fired common supervisor Kevyn Adams on Monday and changed him with Jarmo Kekalainen.
“It’s a nice honor to be named common supervisor of the Buffalo Sabres,” Kekalainen, 59, mentioned Monday. “I wish to lengthen my due to (homeowners) Terry and Kim Pegula for this chance. I’m humbled to be the steward of this crew and look ahead to experiencing the eagerness that Sabres followers deliver to each sport.”
Kekalainen, who has been a senior adviser to the Sabres since Might 30, was beforehand the overall supervisor of the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2013-24, a hiring that made the Finn the primary European-born GM in league historical past.
With Kekalainen on the helm, Columbus made the Stanley Cup playoffs 5 occasions, together with the group’s first playoff sequence win, a first-round sweep of the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019. The 2016-17 season noticed the Blue Jackets set a crew document with 50 wins and 108 factors.
“We aren’t the place we have to be as a company, and we’re transferring ahead with new management inside our hockey operations division,” Terry Pegula mentioned Monday. “We’re devoted to constructing a company that’s aggressive yr after yr, and we now have fallen wanting that expectation.”
A former participant for six totally different groups over 10 seasons, Adams, 51, was an assistant coach for Buffalo from 2011-13 then served in varied enterprise roles within the group earlier than taking on as GM in June 2020 following the firing of Jason Botterill.
“I wish to thank Kevyn for his dedication and loyalty to the Buffalo Sabres,” Pegula mentioned. “He has been a dependable presence, and we’re appreciative of his enduring care and dedication. I personally want him and his total household all one of the best.”
The Sabres (14-14-4, 32 factors) haven’t made the playoffs since 2011. They’re tied with the Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators for final place within the Japanese Convention standings.
On a three-game successful streak, the Sabres subsequent face the Philadelphia Flyers at house on Thursday.
–Subject Stage Media
