Sabres Hire Bergevin as Associate GM, Flynn as Assistant

Buffalo Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen moved quickly to overhaul the team's front office in his first week on the job, announcing the hiring of former Montreal Canadiens executive Marc Bergevin as associate general manager and Josh Flynn as assistant general manager, one day after firing associate general manager Jason Karmanos.

The changes, revealed by the Sabres on Sunday, come amid the team's ongoing struggle with the NHL's longest active playoff drought, now at 14 seasons since their last appearance in 2011. The Sabres sit last in the Atlantic Division and appear headed toward a 15th consecutive postseason miss. Kekalainen, 59, stepped into the general manager role on Monday after owner Terry Pegula dismissed Kevyn Adams. The Finnish executive had served as a senior adviser with the Sabres for more than six months prior to his promotion and previously held the same position with the Columbus Blue Jackets for over a decade until 2024.

Bergevin, 60, fills the associate general manager vacancy left by Karmanos and will act as Kekalainen's top adviser. He spent the past five seasons as a senior adviser with the Los Angeles Kings, contributing during their recent playoff...