Overview
- The Sabres sent Michael Kesselring and the No. 27 overall pick to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for the No. 20 overall pick, a deal announced Wednesday that moves Buffalo up seven spots in the first round.
- San Jose acquired Kesselring as a low-cost, NHL-ready right-shot defenseman and the club’s GM Mike Grier called him a responsible two-way player who upgrades the Sharks’ defensive depth.
- Kesselring, 26, missed significant time in 2025–26 and played just 34 regular-season games plus one short playoff appearance, and he is a pending restricted free agent who must be signed by the Sharks to remain with the team.
- Buffalo traded Kesselring after he fell out of the Sabres’ lineup and the club clearly prioritized improving its draft position rather than keeping or waiting to re-sign him.
- The move alters the first-round order for the 2026 draft and leaves both teams room for more moves — San Jose still needs additional NHL defensemen and Buffalo remains active on the trade market as it manages roster and cap flexibility.