The Buffalo Sabres were sitting dead last in the Eastern Conference just over a month ago. Now?
They’re one of the hottest teams in hockey, riding a 17-3-1 tear that’s flipped the script on their season - and maybe even their franchise. A 10-game win streak helped spark the run, but the real turning point came off the ice: the firing of general manager Kevyn Adams and the hiring of Jarmo Kekalainen.
Since that front office shakeup, the Sabres have looked like a team reborn. The energy is different.
The urgency is real. And for the first time in a long time, Buffalo is legitimately chasing a playoff berth - something they haven’t tasted since 2011.
But with that success comes a fair question: how much credit should Adams get for the Sabres’ turnaround?
It’s not a black-and-white answer. Adams did have his moments during his six-year run.
He brought in Josh Doan, who just inked a seven-year extension, and Michael Kesselring in the JJ Peterka trade with the Utah Mammoth. He also flipped prospect Matthew Savoie to the Oilers for Ryan McLeod - one of the league’s top third-line centers.
Those are solid moves, no doubt.
But let’s be real: the Sabres didn’t suddenly become a playoff-caliber team because of a few savvy transactions. The culture shift under Kekalainen has been undeniable.
When Kekalainen stepped into the role, he didn’t waste time setting the tone. According to team cornerstone Tage Thompson on the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast, Kekalainen’s first message to the locker room was blunt and direct: “You are all pretty much all expendable, and no one is safe. We are going to start working, and if you don't want to work, you're not gonna be on the team.”
That kind of no-nonsense accountability was missing under Adams. For all the belief he had in the team’s core, Adams often hesitated to act - even as the Sabres spiraled through a 13-game losing streak last season.
He didn’t make the tough calls. He didn’t demand more.
And in a league as competitive as the NHL, that kind of passivity can be fatal.
Kekalainen brought edge. He brought urgency. And the players responded.
Of course, this turnaround isn’t just about a new voice in the front office. The roster always had talent - on paper, this team looked capable of more.
But early in the season, injuries and inconsistent performances from key contributors held them back. What’s changed is the compete level.
The Sabres are playing with purpose now. They're skating harder, battling more, and showing the kind of grit that playoff teams are built on.
Head coach Lindy Ruff deserves credit, too. He’s helped steer the ship through the turbulence, and his veteran presence behind the bench has been a stabilizing force. But the message from the top - that complacency won’t be tolerated - has clearly resonated.
So, could Adams get a few nods for GM of the Year? Maybe in theory, but in practice, that ship has sailed.
He had five full seasons to bring the Sabres back to relevance. He didn’t.
And while some of his roster decisions are now bearing fruit, it’s Kekalainen’s leadership that’s sparked this late-season surge.
The Eastern Conference is still a logjam. One bad week could send Buffalo tumbling back down the standings.
But if the Sabres do snap their 14-year playoff drought, the credit won’t go to the former GM who watched the team stagnate. It’ll go to Kekalainen for raising the standard, Ruff for guiding the group, and a roster that finally looks ready to play up to its potential.
Buffalo’s not out of the woods yet - but for the first time in a long time, they’re charging in the right direction.