Sabres hire former Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen as senior advisor

The Buffalo Sabres are bringing experience to their front office, adding longtime NHL general manager Jarmo Kekalainen as the team’s senior advisor, under GM Kevyn Adams. 

Kekalainen, who became the first European NHL GM when he took the role with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2014, will be involved in all areas of the Sabres’ hockey department. 

With his ample NHL experience combined with time overseas, the Sabres will hope that Kekalainen can give them an extra boost as they look to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since the 2010-11 season. 

He draws not only from his time with Columbus but also 15 seasons of previous NHL experience, first as a scout with the Ottawa Senators before becoming the director of amateur scouting and eventually assistant general manager with the St. Louis Blues. 

The Finnish 58-year-old led the Blue Jackets to their most successful seasons in franchise history during his GM tenure, which spanned five of the team’s six appearances in the postseason since their entry into the NHL in 2000-01. 

Before that, during his time with the Blues, he was involved with seven NHL Draft efforts, during which he helped them make 32 picks, including 12 players who went on to play at least 500 NHL games, such as T.J. Oshie, Alex Pietrangelo, and David Perron. 

“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,” Kekalainen said in a team press release.

“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.”

Added Adams: “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 couldn’t be more excited to add another significant piece to our front office as we continue the process of adding to our staff.”

The Sabres missed the playoffs in the 2024-25 season, finishing seventh in the Metropolitan Division with 79 points, and hold the ninth overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.