Buffalo Sabres' GM change isn't about rebuilding

If not for the New York Jets losing in the AFC Championship Game three months before Buffalo's game seven loss to Philadelphia in April 2011, the Sabres would be the owners of the worst streak in the sports world.

They own the second-longest playoff drought in North American professional sports. Technically, it's equal by season — at least it was until the Jets were mathematically eliminated from qualifying for the NFL playoffs. The Sabres could still make the playoffs this year. That would be believable if they weren't sitting in last place in the Atlantic Division. 

It's this that provides critical context to the firing of GM Kevyn Adams, announced Monday afternoon by the Sabres after five and a half years on the job. The Sabres promoted Jarmo Kekalainen, former Columbus Blue Jackets GM, from a senior advisory position to general manager. 

Where it went wrong for Kevyn Adams

Adams' tenure will likely be most remembered for two things — successfully navigating the disastrous Jack Eichel situation and an ongoing failure to properly evaluate what he seemed to regard as a capable core of players.

The early returns post-Eichel were promising. Buffalo's 2022-23 season looked like a major step forward for core forwards Tage Thompson, Dylan Cozens, Casey Mittelstadt and defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. It was highlighted by a late-season tease from goalie Devon Levi. That promise evaporated quickly after a middling 2023-24 campaign where the Sabres finished with 84 points, player productivity declined and Levi looked shaky. 

Adams made a decision that appears to be his signature mistake — he brought the most successful coach in Sabres history back to Buffalo. The hiring of Lindy Ruff likely sealed Adams's fate. We just didn't know it yet. 

Ruff, an extremely accomplished veteran coach, was coming off a tough season in New Jersey. He was fired after a 30-27-4 run through the first 61 games of the season, unable to solve the team's massive goaltending issues. By luck, system or something else, he seems to have imported those exact problems to Buffalo. 

The Sabres' nightmarish history since Ruff's last tenure has been marred by stops and starts, belief and anguish. There have been moments where it looked like the Sabres were ready to take the step, only to be brought back down to reality. The team has essentially executed two full-scale rebuilds since their last trip to the playoffs in April 2011. Fans are tired.