Sharks Acquire Kesselring and 27th Pick From Sabres For 20th Pick – The Hockey Writers – NHL News

The San Jose Sharks have acquired right-handed defenseman Michael Kesselring and the 27th overall draft pick from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for the 20th overall draft pick in this year’s draft.

WE’VE GOT A TRADE 🔀

Hello Michael Kesselring and 27th overall!

— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) June 17, 2026

When the Sabres traded for Kesselring last offseason, the idea was that he was the solution to their lack of right-handed shot defensemen. Well, things didn’t really work out, as he had an injury-riddled season, only playing in 34 games, recording two assists, and in one playoff game this season.

Sharks Add Youth to the Blue Line

The Sharks add 26-year-old Kesselring to the mix of their already pretty old and unstable blue line. Outside of Dmitry Orlov, Sam Dickinson and Luca Cagnoni, they do not have another defenseman under contract. Now, Kesselring is not under contract, as he is a pending restricted free agent (RFA); however, the Sharks would not have traded for him unless they were looking to sign him to a contract extension.

The Sharks have needed to work on their defensive corps, and adding Kesselring helps with that. Everyone talks about their future with Macklin Celebrini, William Eklund, Will Smith and other forwards, but outside of Dickinson, they have not locked up any core defensemen.

With them having the second overall pick, they have a chance to either add to their already stacked forward group by drafting Ivar Stenberg or defenseman Chase Reid; we’ll see who they go with.

This trade for the Sharks helps solidify a part of their top four, and with how much star power they seem to have with their forwards, this addition is huge for taking the next steps in their rebuild.

Kesselring Fell Short in Buffalo

When you look back at his time in Buffalo, it’s clear things just never clicked. Despite flashes of potential, his minutes were limited, and there were nights where he barely saw the ice, sometimes only getting a couple of shifts before head coach Lindy Ruff leaned heavily on a four‑defenseman rotation for most of the game.

He opened the season paired with Owen Power, and early on, it looked promising. There was chemistry, movement, and confidence. But once he went down with an injury, everything changed. The Sabres called up Zach Metsa, who played so well that it became impossible to justify taking him out of the lineup. From that point forward, it felt like Kesselring’s relationship with the organization began to sour. The trust wasn’t there, and the opportunity window closed fast.

Still, a change of scenery can do wonders. In San Jose, he’ll have a chance to reset and prove himself in a bigger role. The Sharks are rebuilding but hungry to compete, and Kesselring’s size, mobility, and edge could make him a key piece of their defensive core. I fully expect him to bounce back, not just to find his game again, but to help push San Jose toward playoff contention.