Overview
- The trade, announced Friday, June 26, 2026, sends 22-year-old defenseman Olen Zellweger to Buffalo in exchange for prospect Anton Wahlberg and the No. 45 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
- Zellweger is a pending restricted free agent after completing his entry-level deal and will require a new contract before the season, making re-signing him an immediate priority for the Sabres.
- On-ice profile: Zellweger is an undersized (5'10", 193 lb) puck mover with strong skating who posted 22 points in 76 games this past season but has shown inconsistent NHL offense and some defensive lapses.
- Anaheim traded him to clear a left-side logjam of young defensemen and recoup assets, adding Wahlberg — a 20-year-old, 6'4" center who scored 37–38 AHL points last season — plus the second-round pick.
- This move is part of Buffalo’s draft-week blue-line retooling after earlier trades that sent Bowen Byram and Michael Kesselring elsewhere, and it leaves Buffalo balancing minutes, power-play roles, and short-term cap decisions while Anaheim pursues further roster moves.