Former Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin hired by Atlantic division team

There was already a major change in leadership for the Buffalo Sabres this week, who decided to fire maligned general manager Kevyn Adams.

In his place, they announced that Jarmo Kekalainen, who had previously been the GM of the Columbus Blue Jackets for many years before taking a job in Buffalo as a senior advisor, was officially Adams' replacement.

Now, it looks like Kekalainen has already made his first major hiring since taking over as Buffalo's GM. Per a report from NHL analyst David Pagnotta, the Sabres are hiring Marc Bergevin from his role as a senior advisor with the Los Angeles Kings.

Bergevin was the GM of the Montreal Canadiens from 2012 to 2021, and was previously the assistant GM of the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Sabres were in need of a new associate general manager, as it was announced today by Kekalainen that they relieved Jason Karmanos, who was also the GM of the American Hockey League affiliate Rochester Americans, of his duties.

Kekalainen is already putting his mark on the franchise that he's now been tasked with overseeing and putting an end to the lengthy playoff drought that has stretched back to 2011.

Right now, the Sabres would miss the playoffs for a 15th straight year if they began today. At 14 years and counting, their drought is the longest in the NHL, and second longest in North American professional sports behind only the NFL's New York Jets, who have officially missed for the 15th straight year.