October 14, 2025 | 1:55pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com

QUESTIONS PICKING UP OVER GM’S FUTURE IN BUFFALO

Sabres GM Kevyn Adams

It is almost déjà vu in Buffalo again after losing their first three games of the 2025-26 NHL regular-season and questions are once again surrounding the future of Sabres GM Kevyn Adams.

Last season, the Sabres lost their first three games of the season, as well, scoring three goals and giving up 10. This season, they are 0-3-0, scoring twice and giving up 10 goals against.

The Sabres ended up nearly evening out their first month of the season, going 4-5-1 in October 2024.

With eight games remaining this month, there is still time to right the ship, but if the team cannot do so, changes made be coming at the executive level in Buffalo.

Adams, 51, was named the team’s GM on June 16, 2020, and speculation has surrounded his tenure for the last two seasons.

As chants of “Fire Adams!” ran down during the third period of Saturday’s 3-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, it is worth noting the team has been dealing with injuries out of the game. The Sabres are without No.1 goalie Uuko-Pekka Luukkonen, new defenceman Michael Kesselring and forwards Jordan Greenway and Zach Benson, while centre Josh Norris is out several weeks because of an upper-body injury and Mattias Samuelsson was injured in Saturday’s game.

Benson, though, is expected to make his season debut Wednesday against the Ottawa Senators.

While injuries aren’t a preferred excuse, they are factoring into the team’s poor start and are legitimate concerns tied to a subpar performance out of the game.

On May 30, the Sabres hired long-time NHL executive Jarmo Kekalainen as the team’s senior advisor. The former Columbus Blue Jackets GM is involved in every area of the club’s hockey department and has already been on the road taking in other NHL games.

Kekalainen could be under consideration to replace Adams if the Sabres make a move up top, though others may be in the mix for the role should Buffalo go in that direction.

Meanwhile, Alex Tuch’s contractual situation remains status quo.

The lines of communication between the Sabres and Tuch’s camp remain open, and as TFP’s David Pagnotta recently reported, Tuch has not closed the door on an extension with the Sabres by any stretch.

Tuch, 29, is in the final year of a seven-year, $33.25 million contract and is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July.