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

[Chainshot]

Good luck with the Sharks, Ultra.

Not sure I like this deal as a Sabre fan.

 

[Vukotal Recall]

Great trade for both, particularly SJ. My God are they going to be good.

 

[Dr Jan Itor]

Does this mean San Jose is drafting Stenberg

I wouldn't say so. They're still pretty light in the RD department.

 

[lanceuppercut75]

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

For San Jose, it's basically something like "do we want an 18 year old Piiparinen that hasn't proven anything yet or a 26 year old Kesselring that has looked fairly good in the NHL at times?". And you ALSO get a 1st round pick with Kesselring.

IF the pro scouts and coaching think they can get him back on track, it's a no brainer.

 

[TheBeard]

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

Yeah. Agreed. This trade sort of tells me that there's no trade back from 2.

 

[Chainshot]

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.

Sounds like they want Morozov.

 

[TheBeard]

Does this mean San Jose is drafting Stenberg

Depends, does anyone with common sense think Kesserling has the potential to be a top pairing d-man?

 

[periferal]

WTF?

Does Buffalo really love someone that much in the 1st 20 picks? Why not trade Kesselring for a 2nd and give your team more options?

 

[brrt]

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

Yeah. Like his value shouldn't have been depleted in the first place, he should've been worked back into the lineup as he got back from his injury. But after ruining his value then he could've at least capitalized on that by extending him.

 

[OtherThingsILike]

Great deal for the Sharks, (in part because I wanted Kesselring).
I don't hate it for the Sabres, assuming they use the upgraded pick wisely, that is.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Does this mean San Jose is drafting Stenberg

No they still need a long term top end blue line option outside of Dickinson especially on the right side. Kesselring is likely filling the middle pairing role.

 

[VeniVidiVlasic]

Looking forward, the real difference in drafted talent between 20 and 27 isnt much of anything. At this point, the question is more about the scouts and developmental and the kid themselves doing their work.

Sharks desperately needed a competent RHD. Not asking for a HOF. Not asking to a miracle like Seider (which I am still holding out hope for because I am that kind of out-there optimism). But the “cost” of dropping 7 spots to land an alright NHL proven RHD is great. UFA is going to be costly for the few in this years class, but this doesnt close that door either. He was fine in Utah previously. Tough year in Buf, and most players have a down year. This is an upgrade to what we had.

 

[McCluffin]

Wonder if Buffalo really likes someone in that range in the draft.

Good value for both sides regardless. Curious what kind of deal Kesselring gets

 

[tsujimoto74]

I don’t think the value is awful for Buffalo but good lord is this trade stupid. Jarmo pissed away assets to make our defense worse at the trade deadline only to turn around and sell low on a player that can actually skate with the rest of our team. What a waste.

 

[Rebels57]

Good move by SJ.

Unsure if it's good for Buffalo yet or not.

 

[samsagat]

Kesselring would've been textbook what Habs need in defense.

It sucks Buffalo and Mtl are in the same division.

 

[1specter]

Solid move by Grier / SJ. Kesselring is a great buy low candidate who had some really shitty luck with injuries this year and fell down the depth chart. Can see him bouncing back nicely, wanted the Leafs to snag him but oh well.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

I still think Kesselring can be a solid second-pair defenseman in the right system. Which wasn't Buffalo, evidently.

 

[BobClarkesfrontteeth]

Jarmo trading up in the draft to make sure he goes off the board for a Russian player ranked 183rd in Europe.

 

[333KIngs]

I can’t recall a year where so many trades right after finals were announced, weak FA class is making it seem like it’s gonna be a busy summer for trades.

 

[Deep Blue Metallic]

Good trade by SJ.

Kess was expected to be Power's partner on the 2nd pairing. Then he was injured early on, Samuelsson regained his elite shutdown form, and suddenly there was no spot in the top-4 for him. He struggled with injury all season, and Lindy was obviously done with him by the time playoffs started. He became expendable.

Huge potential for a bounce-back season on a team hungry for capable d-men.

From the Sabres side, looking forward to seeing who Jarmo drafts that wasn't going to be available at 27OA.

 

[BKarchitect]

Kesselring was on an excellent trajectory in Arizona and is very toolsy and physically projectable of course. I love this for San Jose. I think we will see a lot of Kesselring's 2025-26 season explained by nagging injury. I still think he can be a 2nd pair guy who does a lot of good stuff.

 

[tomd]

Greer is lapping the other GM’s in the Pacific division.

 

[cheesymc]

Makes a ton of sense for SJ. Not risking much for a chance to return to form. I was hoping the Ducks took a shot with Carlsson, Gudas, and Trouba likely moving on.

 

[themelkman]

I can’t recall a year where so many trades right after finals were announced, weak FA class is making it seem like it’s gonna be a busy summer for trades.

Hope they save some for the draft. It's been so boring in recent years