Putting The Band Back Together

When I first saw the news that the Buffalo Sabres had hired 73 year-old John Davidson as a senior consultant, I chuckled in making a joke about how the Sabres were really testing the "senior" part of the job. Of course, it dawned on me quickly that current general manager Jarmo Kekalainen had worked with Davidson in both St. Louis and Columbus, so it seemed like the "old boys' club" was just recycling another person who likely should have stepped aside a while back. I'm not sure why the Sabres, after a remarkable season, feel the need to add someone like Davidson, but he'll be on the payroll next season for Buffalo.

"I am thrilled to welcome John Davidson to the Sabres as a senior advisor," Kekalainen said in a statement released on Monday about Davidson's hiring. "John and I have a strong working relationship that we have developed over many years. His experience leading multiple organizations, combined with his player evaluation skills and relationships around the NHL, make him a great fit for this role. He will lend his expertise and guidance to all areas within the hockey department as we aim to continue to improve our club."

I'll give Kekalainen some praise for recognizing that Davidson has led multiple organizations, but led them to what exactly? He was the President of Hockey Operations in St. Louis from 2006-12 where the team went 235-189-68, missing the playoffs in four of six seasons and advancing to the second round once. He held the same position with the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2012-2019 where they posted a 285-209-46 record, missing the playoffs in three of seven seasons and advancing to the second round once. After two seasons as President of the New York Rangers from 2019-21 where they went 64-51-11 and missed the playoffs in one of two season without advancing, Davidson returned to the Blue Jackets as President of Hockey Operations to oversee the Blue Jackets post an 89-129-28 record from 2021-24, missing the playoffs in all three seasons. Where is the good?

Since 2012 as either President of Hockey Operations or President of hockey clubs, John Davidson-led teams have amassed a collective record of 673-578-153, missed the playoffs in eleven of eighteen seasons, and advanced out of the first round just twice. Add in his work as Columbus' senior advisor since 2024 where the Blue Jackets went 80-63-21 and missed the playoffs twice, and it's hard to understand what John Davidson is bringing to the Sabres in terms of "his player evaluation skills" and his "expertise and guidance".

To be blunt, teams simply do not win under his leadership.

On the flip side, Jarmo Kekalainen seemed to do a remarkable job in pushing the Sabres higher without the help of Davidson, and Kekalainen already added another experienced management voice in Marc Bergevin to the front office. Add in the hiring of Josh Flynn, former Columbus Blue Jackets Assistant General Manager, and it seems like Kekalainen is putting the band back together from their recent work in Columbus which saw the Blue Jackets do very little over the years that Kekalainen, Davidson, and Flynn worked together.

Some will read this article and say, "Teebz, there are a ton of other people who were responsible for the results of those teams" to which I would agree. However, the guy in the big chair with the title of President of Hockey Operations ultimately signs off on every hiring and firing on the hockey side of things. If Davidson wasn't pushing for better results or finding players and coaches who could deliver those results, why was he being paid? After all, that was his job.

Am I saying this was a bad hiring by the Sabres? No, not at all. More experienced voices at the table when making decisions can help assuming they're all on the same page. I have never worked alongside any of Kekalainen, Bergevin, Davidson, or Flynn, so I'd hope that each has strengths to cover weaknesses in the group setting. My concern is Kekalainen allowing Bergevin and/or Davidson to derail any of the momentum he's building in Buffalo with the moves he's already made.

Let me be clear: I'm not saying that will happen either. Personally, I think Jarmo Kekalainen did a solid job outside the deals for Schenn and Stanley last season, and it seems like he's willing to make improvements again if he's still kicking tires on Connor Hellebuyck. That's the kind of forward thinking the Sabres have needed for a while, and it turned into an Atlantic Divsion banner last season when the dust settled. If things go well, expect Buffalo to push for more.

No, they aren't the Blues Brothers, but Jarmo Kekalainen and John Davidson seemingly have put the band back together. They're farther than 106 miles from Chicago, but this front office group try to do what they can to prevent Sabres fans from singing the blues again.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!