The Buffalo Sabres have set the ball rolling on what could be a momentous summer for the franchise by trading away defenseman Michael Kesselring and their 27th-overall pick in the upcoming NHL Draft to San Jose Sharks, and getting back the 20th-overall pick.
The Sharks had obtained that pick from the Edmonton Oilers for defenseman Jake Walman in March 2025.
Kesselring only featured in 34 games with the Sabres with injuries limiting his playing time and utility for Buffalo. He was arguably the centerpiece of the trade that brought him and Josh Doan to Western New York from the Utah Mammoth, but was overshadowed in impact by the son of star defenseman forward Shane Doan. He had two assists and averaged 13:24 of ice time.
The defenseman was at the end of his two-year extension that he had signed with Utah and was set to be an RFA this summer.
The NHL Draft will be held at KeyBank Center on Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27, and the Sabres have four picks: Round 1 (20th overall), Round 4, Round 5 & Round 6.