The Buffalo Sabres have traded Michael Kesselring and the 27th overall pick in this year’s draft to San Jose in exchange for the 20th overall pick.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Sabres have traded defenseman Michael Kesselring and this year’s first round draft pick (#27 overall) to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for the 20th overall pick.
Kesselring, 26, played 34 games with the Sabres in the 2025-26 campaign and scored two points. He was initially acquired from Utah during the 2025 offseason as part of the JJ Peterka trade, along with forward Josh Doan.
The move lifts Buffalo seven spots in the first round draft order. The pick that the team acquired was initially held by the Edmonton Oilers, and was traded to San Jose for defenseman Jake Walman.
Unlike years in the recent past, Buffalo only holds four draft picks this year. A full breakdown can be seen below:
1st Round (acquired from San Jose)4th Round5th Round6th Round
Sabres fans are eagerly awaiting what GM Jarmo Kekelainen will do at the draft table, and many will be in attendance when the draft is held at KeyBank Center on June 26 and 27.
For more information on the 2026 NHL Draft, click here.