Jarmo Kekäläinen

Lore & Background

Kekäläinen began his ice hockey career in Finland, playing for several Finnish teams and the Finland junior team in the 1986 World Junior Championships. He played two seasons at Clarkson University, earning ECAC First Team honors in his second year. He signed with the Boston Bruins and played parts of two seasons there, then returned to Finland for two years. He signed with the Ottawa Senators for the 1993–94 season, playing 28 games. He played in Sweden the following season before retiring in 1995 due to knee problems. After retiring, he became general manager of HIFK Hockey from 1995 to 1999, winning one Kanada-malja. He also worked for the Ottawa Senators in several capacities, then joined the St. Louis Blues as assistant general manager and director of amateur scouting. He returned to Finland as general manager of Jokerit. On February 13, 2013, he was hired as general manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets, becoming the first European and first Finnish general manager in the NHL. He was fired on February 15, 2024, after an 11-year tenure that included the team's first playoff series win in 2019. On May 30, 2025, he was hired by the Buffalo Sabres as a senior advisor, and on December 15, 2025, he was named general manager of the Sabres.

In Their Own Story

The press box at Nationwide Arena hummed with the low buzz of fluorescent lights. Kekäläinen sat three seats back from the bench, a legal pad open, a pen tapping a slow rhythm against his knee. The puck was in the neutral zone, the crowd a murmur, and the scoreboard read 1-1 in the third. He didn't flinch when the opposing winger buried a slapshot from the point. He simply turned a page, wrote two words—*Bjorkstrand, 4-on-3*—and looked up. The bench coach nodded. The next shift, Oliver carried the puck up the left wing, faked a pass, and buried it top-shelf. The arena detonated. Kekäläinen closed the pad, set the pen down, and allowed himself the smallest smile. Then he was already writing the next line.

Reader's Guide

Kekäläinen's executive career includes serving as general manager of HIFK (1995–1999), director of player personnel for the Ottawa Senators (until 2002), assistant general manager and director of amateur scouting for the St. Louis Blues (2002–?), general manager of Jokerit, general manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets (2013–2024), and general manager of the Buffalo Sabres (from December 15, 2025). He was also named assistant general manager of Finland senior team for the 2022 Winter Olympics on April 28, 2021.

Did You Know?

• Kekäläinen is the first European and first Finnish general manager in NHL history.
• He earned a bachelor's degree in management from Clarkson University and a master's degree in marketing from the University of Tampere.
• He helped draft future NHL stars such as Marián Hossa, Martin Havlát, and Ray Emery while with the Ottawa Senators.
• As assistant general manager of the St. Louis Blues, he helped draft Alex Pietrangelo, T. J. Oshie, Patrik Berglund, David Perron, and David Backes.