The Buffalo Sabres have added to their front office by hiring John Davidson, a popular former goalie and broadcaster who has spent most of the past 20 years working as a president of hockey operations, as a senior advisor, the team announced Monday.
Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, 60, and Davidson, 73, know each other well, having worked closely together with the Columbus Blue Jackets and St. Louis Blues.
Shortly taking over as president of hockey operations, Davidson brought Kekalainen to Columbus in 2013, making him the NHL’s first European GM. Davidson also served as St. Louis’ president of hockey operations when Kekalainen worked as the Blues’ director of amateur scouting.
“I am thrilled to welcome John Davidson to the Sabres as a senior advisor,” Kekalainen said in a statement. “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.”
Kekalainen served as Buffalo’s senior advisor before before replacing Kevyn Adams as GM on Dec. 15.
Davidson is the Sabres’ third significant addition to the front office under Kekalainen. Kekalainen hired Marc Bergevin and Josh Flynn as assistant GMs shortly before Christmas.
“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 in a statement. “The momentum in Buffalo is palpable throughout the entire league and the passion from Sabres fans makes this opportunity all the more exciting.”
Davidson enjoyed a 10-year playing career with the Blues and New York Rangers before before beginning a broadcasting career with the Rangers and national outlets and becoming one of hockey’s most respected voices. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009 as the winner of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award.
After Davidson joined the Blues in 2006-07 following an ugly 21-win campaign, they made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2008-09 and again in 2011-12, when they earned 109 points.
Davidson and Kekalainen led the Blue Jackets to the playoffs four times and a franchise-record 108 points in 2016-17.
After spending 2019-20 and 2020-21 as the Rangers’ president, Davidson returned to Columbus as president of hockey operations for three seasons.
He briefly served as interim GM in 2023-24 after the Blue Jackets fired Kekalainen. He spent 2024-25 as a senior advisor for the team.
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The Sabres on Monday avoided arbitration with Peyton Krebs, signing the versatile forward to a four-year, $18 million contract.
Krebs, 25, was the Sabres’ last restricted free agent. He filed for arbitration last week.
His $4.5 million salary cap hit is the seventh-highest among Buffalo forwards. He just completed a two-year, $2.9 million contract.
Krebs will receive a $3 million salary and a $2 million signing bonus in the first two years of the deal and a $4 million salary in the last two seasons, according to Puckpedia.com. The contract also includes a seven-team no-trade clause in the last two years, according to Puckpedia.com.
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The Sabres also traded minor league forwards with the Washington Capitals, acquiring Zac Funk in exchange for Tyler Kopff.
The 6-foot, 210-pound Funk, 22, spent most of last season in the ECHL, scoring nine goals and 19 points in 23 games for the South Carolina Stingrays. He also registered two assists in 10 outings for the Hershey Bears, Washington’s AHL affiliate.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Kopff, 23, spent most of last season with the Rochester Americans, scoring one goal and five points in 30 games.