Sabres promote Jerry Forton to assistant general manager, hire Chris Bergeron 

The Buffalo Sabres announced Tuesday that the club has promoted Jerry Forton to assistant general manager, as well as hired Chris Bergeron as an amateur free agent scout.

Forton will oversee the amateur and pro scouting departments as assistant GM.

The Buffalo native has served as the Sabres’ director of amateur scouting since 2020-21. Prior to that, he spent five seasons in scouting with Buffalo, three as director of collegiate scouting and two as assistant director of scouting. 

“I am thrilled to announce that Jerry Forton has been promoted to assistant general manager,” Buffalo general manager Kevyn Adams said in a statement released by the team Tuesday. “His steady commitment to the Sabres organization and exemplary work ethic have played a pivotal role in the success of our staff over the years. I know that the ongoing positive influence he will undoubtedly exert in his new role will continue to serve as a driving force in our organization.”

Bergeron spent the past five seasons as the head coach of Miami University (NCAA) in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. He coached Bowling Green State University for 10 seasons prior, taking them to the NCAA Tournament in 2019. Bergeron has gone 206-270-60 as a college head coach.  

“I am pleased to welcome Chris Bergeron to the Buffalo Sabres organization as an amateur free agent scout,” Adams said in the team statement. “Chris’ notable achievements at the college level, coupled with his strategic focus on progression and development, make him an ideal candidate for this role.”

Buffalo fired coach Don Granato after going 39-37-6 in the 2023-24 regular season and hired former coach Lindy Ruff as head coach on April 22. The Sabres look to get back into the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since losing in the first round in 2011.