BREAKING: Sabres have promoted Jerry Forton to assistant general manager and have brought in another scout agent.

On Tuesday, the Buffalo Sabres announced the promotion of Jerry Forton to assistant general manager, along with the hiring of Chris Bergeron as a scout focusing on amateur free agents.

We have promoted Jerry Forton to assistant general manager and hired Chris Bergeron as an amateur free agent scout.

Get the details: https://t.co/LsynLtWljR pic.twitter.com/xUehdXeIW6

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) June 11, 2024

As assistant GM, Forton will be responsible for managing both the amateur and professional scouting divisions. A native of Buffalo, he has been with the Sabres since the 2020-21 season, initially serving as the director of amateur scouting. Before that, he spent five seasons in various scouting roles with the team, including three years as the director of collegiate scouting and two as the assistant director of scouting.

“I am thrilled to announce that Jerry Forton has been promoted to assistant general manager,” Buffalo general manager Kevyn Adams said in a statement released by the team Tuesday. “His steady commitment to the Sabres organization and exemplary work ethic have played a pivotal role in the success of our staff over the years. I know that the ongoing positive influence he will undoubtedly exert in his new role will continue to serve as a driving force in our organization.”

Over the last five seasons, Bergeron served as the head coach of Miami University (NCAA) in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. Prior to that, he coached Bowling Green State University for a decade, leading them to the NCAA Tournament in 2019. Bergeron’s record as a college head coach stands at 206-270-60.

“I am pleased to welcome Chris Bergeron to the Buffalo Sabres organization as an amateur free agent scout,” Adams said in the team statement. “Chris’ notable achievements at the college level, coupled with his strategic focus on progression and development, make him an ideal candidate for this role.”

After finishing the 2023-24 regular season with a record of 39-37-6, the Buffalo Sabres dismissed coach Don Granato and appointed former coach Lindy Ruff as the new head coach on April 22. The team aims to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since their first-round exit in 2011.