The Buffalo Sabres just made a move that has nothing to do with the players on the ice but could have a real impact on the guys who pick them. The team announced Monday that John Davidson is coming aboard as a senior advisor. He’s a guy who knows a thing or two about pulling organizations out of the mud.
Davidson brings 20 years of NHL front office experience with him, including 18 seasons as a president of hockey operations. He’s worked for the St. Louis Blues, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the New York Rangers. That last stop didn’t end great — he was fired by the Rangers back in 2021 — but his resume still carries weight.
There’s a connection here too. Davidson worked with Sabres GM Jarmo Kekäläinen during their time together in St. Louis and Columbus. Kekäläinen clearly values that relationship.
“I am thrilled to welcome John Davidson to the Sabres as a senior advisor,” Kekäläinen said. “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.”
Davidson’s history suggests he can help. He turned the Blues from a bottom-feeder in the Western Conference into a Stanley Cup contender. Then he did something similar in Columbus, overseeing the most successful stretch that franchise has ever seen. That’s not nothing.
The Sabres finally broke a 14-year playoff drought this past season. But the offseason has been bumpy. They lost multiple key players in free agency, and the momentum from finally getting back to the postseason feels a little shaky now. Adding Davidson is a sign they’re not just hoping things work out. They’re trying to build something sustainable.
“I am excited to join the Buffalo Sabres and look forward to the opportunity to help the organization in any way I can,” Davidson said. “The momentum in Buffalo is palpable throughout the entire league and the passion from Sabres fans makes this opportunity all the more exciting. I look forward to continuing the relationships with many in the Sabres’ front office and building new ones in this role, all with the goal of contributing to a winning culture. Thank you to Jarmo and the Pegula family for this opportunity.”
Here’s the thing about Davidson though. For all the turnarounds he’s been part of, he’s never won a Stanley Cup. Neither have the Sabres, not once in franchise history. So there’s a shared goal there. He’s not just here to help them contend. He’s here to help them finish the job.
Whether that actually happens is anyone’s guess. The Sabres have had plenty of front office shakeups over the years and the Cup still hasn’t come to Buffalo. But Davidson has been around long enough to know what works and what doesn’t. Kekäläinen is betting that experience pays off.
Leave a Comment