Sharks & Sabres Swap First Round Picks, Sharks Get Kesselring

The San Jose Sharks and Buffalo Sabres agreed to trade this afternoon in a surprising swap. The Sabres are receiving the 20th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft from the Sharks. Buffalo is sending their 27th overall pick from the 2026 NHL Entry Draft to the Sharks along with defenseman Michael Kesselring.

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Buffalo moves up seven picks in the draft. San Jose moves down seven picks and also gets a young defenseman who is a restricted free agent. Kesselring, in 34 games for Buffalo this season, had two assists. He was even in plus/minus with 38 blocked shots and 25 total hits. Kesselring is in his fourth NHL season. He spent two seasons in Arizona, appearing in 74 games, recording 24 points on five goals and 19 assists. He was a plus-ten with two game-winning goals, 66 blocked shots, and 118 total hits. The franchise then moved to Utah, where in one season he appeared in all 82 games, scoring 29 points with seven of those coming on goals and 22 on assists. He was a plus-four with a power-play goal, a game-winning goal, 67 blocked shots, and 87 total hits.

Kesselring was drafted 164th overall by the Oilers before they traded him to Arizona in 2023. He was then traded to Buffalo last June in the deal that saw Josh Doan join him in exchange for JJ Peterka.