Futa not expected to land Sabres GM job, excited about new Kings role

Mike Futa may not be in the mix for the Buffalo Sabres' vacant general manager position, but if he isn't, he still has a decent consolation prize.

The longtime Los Angeles Kings executive no longer appears to be under heavy consideration for the Sabres job, Fox Sports West's Jon Rosen reported after talking to Futa twice and to another team source Thursday.

Futa was promoted to assistant general manager of the Kings last month when former GM Dean Lombardi was fired.

He told Rosen multiple times that he's "excited" about his new role with the Kings, speaking passionately about the feeling in the organization after the elevation of Luc Robitaille to team president and Rob Blake to GM.

Futa said he was "thrilled" to interview with the Sabres, adding that the experience was "gratifying."

He's spent 10 years with the Kings in various roles, the last three of which as the club's vice president of hockey operations and director of player personnel.