The Buffalo Sabres made another addition to their front office on Friday, hiring former Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen as a senior adviser. He will report to general manager Kevyn Adams and assist in all aspects of the hockey department.
Kekäläinen is the second addition Adams has made to the front office this offseason. Earlier this month, he hired his former Hurricanes teammate Eric Staal as a special assistant to the general manager. Adams, who is returning for his sixth season on the job, has started to recognize the need for more experienced voices around him as he tries to end the team's 14-year playoff drought.
"As we navigated the process of hiring for this role, it very quickly became apparent that Jarmo was an ideal candidate to augment our front office," Adams said in a statement. "From his extensive history in scouting, his long tenure as an NHL general manager and his vast experience at the international and European pro levels, Jarmo has a remarkable resume and a long history of success in this league. I spoke with a number of candidates about this role and it's clear to me that Jarmo is a perfect fit for our team. I couldn't be more excited to add another significant piece to our front office as we continue the process of adding to our staff."
Kekäläinen became the first European-born general manager in NHL history when the Blue Jackets hired him in 2013. During his 12 seasons on the job, the Blue Jackets made the playoffs five times. He was both the longest-serving and winningest general manager in Blue Jackets history. Prior to his time in Columbus, Kekäläinen was a general manager in the Finnish Liiga and also had an extensive NHL resume. He was a European scout for the Senators before spending three years as Ottawa's director of player personnel. He then spent three years as a director of amateur scouting for the St. Louis Blues before getting a promotion and serving as the Blues' assistant general manager for five seasons.
"Kevyn and I already had a strong working relationship from my time with the Blue Jackets and when we first started talking about this opportunity, it immediately felt like a natural fit," Kekäläinen said in a statement. "We are aligned in our philosophies and share the same core beliefs on how to build a winning team. I'm eager to help in any area I can and think I can offer a fresh perspective to supplement the staff already in place as we look to improve our roster this offseason."
Kekäläinen immediately becomes the most experienced person in Buffalo's front office. And while his track record in Columbus was imperfect, having another voice in the room will be valuable for Adams as he navigates a tricky offseason. JJ Peterka, Bowen Byram, Ryan McLeod, Jack Quinn, Devon Levi and Jacob Bernard-Docker are all restricted free agents. Alex Tuch is also eligible for a contract extension. The contract negotiations and trade discussions the team has this summer will impact what direction this rebuild takes.
During Adams' five-year tenure as general manager, the Sabres' winning percentage is 25th in the NHL, and they haven't finished higher than 20th in the league standings. He's drawn consistent and vocal criticism from the fan base for his missteps during those five seasons. After hitting 91 points in 2022-23, the Sabres have regressed in each of their last two seasons. Adams and coach Lindy Ruff are both entering the final year of their respective contracts, so there is significant pressure to make this season the one in which the Sabres finally end their playoff drought.
How big of a voice Kekäläinen will have in that process and whether he can help the Sabres achieve that goal remains to be seen. But few would argue against the idea that an experienced voice was needed in Buffalo's front office.