Pegula’s Sabres Hit Reset (Again) While His Bills Keep Winning

One of the most downtrodden franchises in U.S. pro sports is hitting the reset button—again—and the team’s reclusive owner briefly reemerged from the shadows.

The Sabres introduced on Tuesday their new GM, Jarmo Kekäläinen, with predecessor Kevyn Adams “relieved of his duties,” according to the team, after more than five years in the post. The move arrives as the Sabres have not reached the postseason since 2011, tied with the NFL’s Jets for the longest such streak in major U.S. pro sports. 

After entering this season with elevated hopes of finally breaking that ignominious run, Buffalo ranks next to last in the Eastern Conference, even amid an active, three-game winning streak.

“We’re very close. I firmly believe we can make the playoffs this year,” said Kekäläinen, who previously had been a senior advisor for the Sabres since May, and before that spent 12 years as Blue Jackets GM. 

“I told the players to forget the 14-year [non-playoff] thing, forget about the 14 years that are hanging around like a black cloud. … We’re going to have a plan. The plan is to win the Stanley Cup. We’re not going to take any shortcuts,” he said.

Sabres owner Terry Pegula, meanwhile, surprised local observers by participating, at least somewhat, in the Kekäläinen press conference, making his first public remarks since firing Jason Botterill from this same Sabres GM position in June 2020. Pegula, however, did not take questions, leaving Kekäläinen to fulfill that responsibility.

“Over the last seven months, [Kekäläinen] has shown to me that he is capable of leading our organization into the future,” Pegula said in his brief remarks. “He has made bold moves in the past … and he has a confidence that I believe will help our organization.”

Kekäläinen is the fifth person to hold the GM position since Pegula and his family acquired the Sabres in 2011, just before that most recent playoff appearance. Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff, in his second stint with the team, remains in place, and Kekäläinen spoke highly of him.

The Contenders Next Door

The situation with the Sabres, meanwhile, could hardly be more different than the neighboring Bills. The NFL team is also owned by Pegula and there is some crossover in senior leadership, particularly Pete Guelli, the COO of both teams.

The Bills, however, are a perennial contender and have reached the NFL playoffs each of the last six seasons, largely coinciding with the tenure of star quarterback Josh Allen, the reigning league Most Valuable Player. After a big road win Sunday in New England and the regression this year of the Chiefs, the Bills now have the third-best odds to win Super Bowl LX behind the Rams and Seahawks. The team also has a new stadium under construction that will open next year, contrasting sharply with the increasingly aging and worn-down KeyBank Center in downtown Buffalo. 

Kekäläinen, however, pointed to the intensity of Sabres fans and said he wants to reward that support.

“To see the passion of the fans here in Buffalo, it’s something that reminds me a little of my home in Finland,” Kekäläinen said, referencing the significant hockey culture there.