Confirmed Trade: [SJS/BUF] Michael Kesselring and 2026 1st round pick (27th overall) for 2026 1st round pick (20th overall)

[Empoleon8771]

I'm curious, how would people say his value compares to Spence? On one hand, Spence is coming off the substantially better season. On the other hand, Kesselring feels like he's a much more attractive type of player than Spence and Spence last year was just traded for pick #67. Does Spence pull off a late 1st or high 2nd? Or is his value the same mid 2nd that Kesselring went for here?

 

[BHD]

Sharks brass must think they’re getting the 2016 version of Phil Kessel and his ring.

 

[Leo2Cutter]

I like it for San Jose

 

[TheBeard]

Meh. Cost from 20th to 27th would be at least a mid/late 2nd. Somewhat expensive

You'd think we coulda just dumped the Colorado 2nd.

 

[TheBeard]

I like it but I don't love it. I wanted Kesselring but there are some good draft fallers potentially around at 20.

Not sure he should've held this much value

I kinda agree. I feel like this is a deal that could have been made at the draft closer to the pick.

 

[wonton15]

Excellent work by Grier

 

[KrisLetAngry]

I feel San Jose wins this by a tiny bit. At least Buffalo gets a better chance to pick there guy. Maybe the see someone at 20 that definitely wont be there at 27.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

...like it for San Jose...fan of Kesselring; kinda wanted Montreal to be in on him...

 

[kirby11]

Feels like this is a solid move for both teams. SJ gets a young-ish guy with some potential still (although all the injuries he picked up last year are concerning) and the Sabres dealt a guy who just wasn't working out here to move up in the draft for a potential faller.

 

[MadMaxim]

Big win for the Sharks, and surprisingly not even bad for the Sabres, there wasn't much use for Kesselring in Buffalo and it leaves more room in the D-core for the current backlog with Mrtka and Metsa. I definitely won't complain about a draft jump either.

 

[BeranekAndNeck]

Great move by Grier. Team had nothing on the right side.

 

[Breakers]

Wasn’t this dude playing like 12 minutes a game last season or something like that?

I remember the broadcast saying that

 

[Stringer Bell]

So Buffalo traded Peterka and 27 for Doan and 20.

Hard to be mad at that.

What if you're a Utah fan?

 

[Gabrielor]

Great move by SJS

7 spots back for a potential rebounding top 4 RD.


For Buf....he was going....SJS was a clear team you'd think would be interested....I think the return was light.

 

[atlanticobserver]

Kesselring was a healthy scratch for Buffalo, now they are set up a bit better for draft?

Aren't Stanley and Schenn UFA, though? With those two out of the equation, Kesselring would probably have played. Barring additional moves, their RHDs under contract are Metsa and Timmins? This leaves them ~$12 mil in cap with Krebs and Benson needing new deals...I don't see how they're replacing Kesselring. I don't get it.

 

[Qward]

damnit. i wanted him.

 

[Whitesnake]

Awesome trade by Buffalo. Send away somebody they don't use and have no use, to moev 7 spots when there's really around the exact number of real interesting players. Good job again Sabres.

 

[brrt]

f***. Kekäläinen's asset management has been awful so far.

 

[Hale The Villain]

Might have been mentioned already, but last draft LA moved down 7 spots from 24 to 31 and picked up a late 2nd, so this kind of implies Kesselring's value was about a mid-late 2nd.

 

[HaNotsri]

f***. Kekäläinen's asset management has been awful so far.

Yeah it's Tim Murray all over again. Why can't we have a balanced GM?
Terrible trade. Congrats to Sharks for buying low.

 

[lanceuppercut75]

Kesselring had a bad year overall, but he looked good early on. He's still relatively young. If he rebounds in San Jose, this is a bad trade for Buffalo IMO. Even if they draft well at 20th overall, Buffalo should have extracted at least a bit more value.

 

[stone fury]

kesselring will be a stud it is inevitable

 

[wej20]

Great move for San Jose. They already have a great prospect pool plus the 2nd overall pick. They'll still get a good prospect at 27 and Kesselring still has upside.

 

[MasterMatt25]

Does this mean San Jose is drafting Stenberg

 

[ThorNton Apologist]

You'd think we coulda just dumped the Colorado 2nd.

Had to think Buffalo was more interested in the trade up than 62