“Kevyn Adams has been relieved of his duties as general manager of the Buffalo Sabres,” Pegula said. “I would like to thank Kevyn for his dedication and loyalty to the Buffalo Sabres. He has been a reliable presence, and we are appreciative of his enduring care and commitment. I personally wish him and his entire family all the best.

Kevyn Adams will not be the man who leads the Sabres back to the promised land. Buffalo, tied for last in the Eastern Conference at 14-14-4 entering Monday’s slate, fired its general manager as the franchise hurtles toward extending its NHL-long active playoff drought to 15 seasons.

What happens next? General manager Kevyn Adams, having been fired on Monday by owner Terry Pegula and replaced by Jarmo Kekalainen, is gone after a five-and-a-half-year run in which he failed to build the Buffalo Sabres into a playoff team.

The Buffalo Sabres have fired their general manager and promoted another executive in his place.

The Sabres rank in the top 10 in both average shot speed (59.57 mph; seventh) and 20-plus mph speed bursts (817; eighth); they are one of four teams in the top 10 of each category, joining the Colorado Avalanche, New York Islanders and Ottawa Senators.