Sabres Deal Kesselring To Sharks

The Buffalo Sabres have traded defenseman Michael Kesselring and the 27th overall pick of the 2026 NHL Draft to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for the 20th pick in the first round.

Kesselring was acquired by the Sabres along with forward Josh Doan from  Utah in the deal, which saw scoring winger JJ Peterka moved to the Mammoth one year ago on June 25th, 2025.

At the time of last summer’s move, Kesselring was projected to be the key piece of the transaction coming to the Sabres. 

The 26-year-old blueliner never really got his feet under him in his time in Buffalo. 

The 2025-26 campaign was marked primarily by injuries and time spent in the press box for the native of Florence, South Carolina. 

Kesselring suffered three separate injuries in his year in Buffalo and was never able to establish himself as a night-in, night-out regular in the lineup. 

As the year progressed, Kesselring found himself to be the odd man out on a crowded Sabres blueline, particularly in the later stages of the regular season and into the playoffs. Simply put, Kesselring just didn’t seem to be one of head coach Lindy Ruff’s trusted players. 

When general manager Jarmo Kekalainen acquired defensive depth additions at the trade deadline last spring, the handwriting seemed to be on the wall regarding Kesselring’s future. 

When Luke Schenn and Logan Stanley arrived in Buffalo last spring, it was becoming clear that the Sabres’ future at defense would not include Kesselring. 

Doan had emerged as the key to the Peterka deal for Buffalo early in the season. 

Last summer’s question of who would replace Peterka’s goal production was answered by Doan. 

The 24-year-old winger tallied twenty-five goals and added twenty-seven assists while appearing in every regular season and playoff game for the Sabres in 25-26.

With Ruff signing a two-year contract extension this spring, it was time for Kekalainen to swing a deal to move on from Kesselring. 

Moving up in the first round draft order could also signal another deal potentially being in the works involving the number twenty selection the Sabres obtained in the Kesselring trade. 

The departure of Kesselring is likely just the first of many changes coming in Buffalo as the offseason progresses. 

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