Sabres hire Kekalainen as senior advisor

The Buffalo Sabres hired Jarmo Kekalainen as a senior advisor to general manager Kevyn Adams, the team announced Friday.

Kekalainen served as GM of the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2013 to 2024. Columbus made the postseason five times in a seven-year stretch under his guidance. The Finn was the first European GM in NHL history.

He recently interviewed for the Islanders' GM vacancy before New York hired Mathieu Darche.

"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. "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."

Kekalainen immediately becomes one of the most experienced members of Buffalo's front office, along with associate GM Jason Karmanos. He even has more experience than Adams, who had little hockey operations experience before he was named GM in 2020.

The Sabres also recently added 18-year NHL veteran Eric Staal to the front office as a special assistant to Adams.