- Sabres send Michael Kesselring and the No. 27 pick to San Jose for the No. 20 selection
- Buffalo jumps seven spots in the first round of next week’s 2026 NHL Draft
- Read below for Mike Grier’s take and what went wrong for Kesselring in Buffalo
The Buffalo Sabres are moving up in the first round, and Michael Kesselring is the cost.
The deal sent the 26-year-old defenseman and the No. 27 pick to the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday for the No. 20 selection in next week’s draft. Buffalo climbs seven spots, and San Jose adds a big-bodied blueliner.
Here’s Buffalo confirming the swap:
San Jose didn’t hide its excitement:
Sharks general manager Mike Grier sees a fit on his blue line. Grier broke down what he’s getting:
“Michael has a big frame (6-foot-5, 215 pounds) with solid two-way ability. He is a responsible player in the defensive zone with a well-rounded offensive game, and will be a good upgrade for us patrolling the blue line.”
Kesselring never found a real role in Buffalo. He managed two assists in 34 games, bounced in and out as a healthy scratch, and slid down the depth chart once the Sabres added Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn at the deadline. His only playoff appearance was 4:25 of ice time in the Game 6 clincher over Boston.
The Sabres landed him a year ago in the JJ Peterka deal with Utah, with Josh Doan coming the other way. Doan took over the spotlight by scoring 25 goals, and Kesselring faded into the background. It’s another piece of Buffalo’s busy offseason.
Kesselring sits in the final year of a two-year, $2.8 million contract and can become a restricted free agent on July 1, with arbitration rights.
San Jose keeps stacking picks. The Sharks hold eight selections in this draft, including the No. 2 overall, after an 86-point season that jumped them 32 points in the standings.
Buffalo, back in the playoffs this spring for the first time since 2011, picks 20th when the draft opens next week.
