The Buffalo Sabres continued reshaping their front office Saturday with another significant addition.
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Marc Bergevin is leaving the Los Angeles Kings to join the Sabres as associate general manager. The move comes on the same day newly appointed head of hockey operations Jarmo Kekalainen made his first major decision, dismissing associate general manager Jason Karmanos.
Bergevin departs Los Angeles after spending the past two seasons as a senior advisor to the Kings’ general manager. He also recently served as the general manager for Canada’s entry in this year’s Spengler Cup.
The 59-year-old brings extensive NHL experience to Buffalo. He spent nine seasons running the Montreal Canadiens from 2012 to 2021, highlighted by a run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021. Before his tenure in Montreal, Bergevin held several roles with the Chicago Blackhawks, including assistant general manager during their 2010 Stanley Cup championship season.
Bergevin now joins a Sabres organization searching for stability and success. Buffalo owns the NHL’s longest active playoff drought, having missed the postseason for 14 consecutive seasons since last qualifying in 2011. Sitting at the bottom of the Atlantic Division, the Sabres are once again on pace to extend that streak, making the changes to the front office all the more significant as the franchise looks for a turnaround.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].