The Buffalo Sabres announced on Tuesday morning that they have relieved General Manager Jason Botterill of his duties, effectively immediately.
The Buffalo Sabres today announced the team has relieved Jason Botterill of his duties as General Manager. Senior Vice President of Business Administration Kevyn Adams has been named General Manager. https://t.co/Y38ysayucc
— Sabres PR (@SabresPR) June 16, 2020
The much-maligned Botterill was reportedly heading into the final year of his contract before he was let go.
Despite past success within the Pittsburgh Penguins organization in a bevy of important roles (Director of Hockey Administration, Assistant / Associate General Manager), Botterill was unable to replicate success after being hired by the Sabres organization.
In 233 games at the helm, the Botterill-built Sabres amassed a record of 88-115-30, missing the playoffs in all three seasons.
In the same breath of the Botterill firing, the Buffalo Sabres also announced that Kevyn Adams will be taking over the role as Sabres General Manager.
We have relieved Jason Botterill of his duties as General Manager.
Senior Vice President of Business Administration Kevyn Adams has been named General Manager. pic.twitter.com/TPAFXvAPej
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) June 16, 2020
Adams, 45 years old, is a former first-round draft pick of the Boston Bruins in the 1993 NHL Entry Level Draft.
In 540 career NHL games, Adams tallied 136 points (59 goals, 77 assists).
Throughout his post-NHL days, Adams has climbed the ladder throughout Pegula Sports and Entertainment, while keeping close ties to the Buffalo Sabres.
Adams joined the Sabres organization in 2009, as a player development coach. Adams was then promoted to Assistant Coach of the Sabres during the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons.
In October 2013, Adams was hired by the LECOM Harborcenter as the Vice President and Director of the Academy of Hockey. Three months later, Adams was named as the General Manager of the LECOM Harborcenter.
Adams served in the General Manager role of the LECOM Harborcenter until September 24, 2019, when the Buffalo Sabres announced the hiring of Adams as their Senior Vice President of Business Administration.
In a joint statement released on the Sabres website, Terry and Kim Pegula had high praise for Adams.
“New General Manager Kevyn Adams and Head Coach Ralph Krueger already have a close working relationship and we are excited to see what they can do together as we reconfigure our hockey operations. We have the benefit of this long 2020 pause to take time to reorganize and re-energize our hockey department. We recognize the importance of this offseason with so many player decisions to be made.”