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

[nbwingsfan]

Startling move for Buffalo. What would that make Kesselring's value straight-up? A second? Jeez, this is so much better for SJ than paying any of the free agent RHDs 8 figures or close to it. Fantastic trade for the Sharks

He should bounce back, but he had really lost his spot on Buffalos starting 6

 

[Spearmint Rhino]

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?

Maybe the 20th is being flipped in a different deal, Sabres should be beyond worrying about prospects now given the season they just had

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

I get why SJ did this they improve their top 4 and it only cost them 7 spots.

But if you are Buffalo why weaken your D just to move up 7 spots

 

[Treb]

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?

They need quality more than they need quantity. Gives them more chance at the guy they want (or one of the classic draft day fallers).

 

[gary559]

Looks like Stenberg is back on the menu.

 

[Aashir]

good deal for both sides IMO

san jose needs to pick up some defencemen, and they didn't really lose much and got a decent guy with some upside, i am assuming they have a few guys in the 20s they think are interchangeable

he had a weird stint in buffalo (injuries and all that) and with the emergence of Samuelsson that top 4 looks crowded...they upgraded their pick and probably have someone they like in that range so they can get that guy

 

[Djp]

Good luck with the Sharks, Ultra.

Not sure I like this deal as a Sabre fan.

I’m concerned on RD depth and how difficult to get RD with experience out there.

He’s worth more than a 2nd.

I also understand the risk with cap space and salary arb given the tight cap space.

Maybe they are planning another trade to bring in a RD?

Historically is a big difference in draft between 20 and 27. Usually top 20 are career NHLers who should have a long career while late 1st 25-40 can be very hit and miss.

 

[PensandCaps]

Kesselring hasn't proven jack shit. 16 mins TOI per game in his career. Basically fell 7 spots for a #6 Dman with potential.

Meh. But SJS needs NHL capable Dmen badly.

 

[333KIngs]

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

I think we see the Nurse Larkin and Paryako/McTavish trade at the draft.

 

[Chainshot]

I get why SJ did this they improve their top 4 and it only cost them 7 spots.

But if you are Buffalo why weaken your D just to move up 7 spots

I mean, someone pointed out he was so far in the doghouse that Luke Schenn got in the lineup over him (and was more effective) in the playoffs. Credit to @TehDoak but that's a hard spot to work out of so it seems.

 

[CanadienShark]

I absolutely love this deal. I've been on the Kesselring trade train for a while now. I would've given up 20th for Kesselring + 2nd/3rd, so this is incredible.

 

[Wallet Inspector]

I get why SJ did this they improve their top 4 and it only cost them 7 spots.

But if you are Buffalo why weaken your D just to move up 7 spots

Buffalo already has their top 4 D secured, plus Metsa+Timmins has been a good bottom pair for them. They can allocate the cap space needed to re-sign Kesselring elsewhere.

 

[MiscBrah]

Kesselring hasn't proven jack shit. 16 mins TOI per game in his career. Basically fell 7 spots for a #6 Dman with potential.

Meh. But SJS needs NHL capable Dmen badly.

Yea, this just makes me think the market for RD this summer is going to be insane. If this is the floor, then where is the ceiling?

 

[CanadienShark]

So Buffalo traded Peterka and 27 for Doan and 20.

Hard to be mad at that.

Glad it worked out for you as well! It's always easy to look at things in a vacuum and harder to see the big picture. That is good value for Buffalo from that perspective.

I'm also thrilled with the trade from the Sharks side.

 

[ThorNton Apologist]

I get why SJ did this they improve their top 4 and it only cost them 7 spots.

But if you are Buffalo why weaken your D just to move up 7 spots

Buffalo had such depth at defense. They could expend a player who didn’t quite work out for them to move up and potentially get a guy they think wouldn’t be available at 27

 

[Soundgarden]

I get why SJ did this they improve their top 4 and it only cost them 7 spots.

But if you are Buffalo why weaken your D just to move up 7 spots

Going from 27 to 20 is going up an entire tier or possibly two in the draft.

 

[dgibb10]

I get why SJ did this they improve their top 4 and it only cost them 7 spots.

But if you are Buffalo why weaken your D just to move up 7 spots

Kesselring didn't even play for them and was gonna be due a raise

 

[Zman5778]

Going from 27 to 20 is going up an entire tier or possibly two in the draft.

I don't see it. I think 20 and 27 are largely the same tier.

 

[Buckley]

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

By finishing near the bottom of the league each season?

 

[atlanticobserver]

He should bounce back, but he had really lost his spot on Buffalos starting 6

Thing is, Buffalo is prob losing Schenn and/or Stanley with only $11 mil of space to re-sign Benson and Krebs, maybe Malenstyn. Forget Tuch at this point, with their cap situation, he's gone. Tough to convince me Metsa and Timmins should be playing on the right over Kesselring in the long run. I think SJ probably just got a gift

 

[Your Boy Troy]

He's got all the physical tools that you want in a defeseman. His hockey sense is what prevents him from being a great minute-muncher.

 

[nbwingsfan]

Thing is, Buffalo is prob losing Schenn and/or Stanley with only $11 mil of space to re-sign Benson and Krebs, maybe Malenstyn. Forget Tuch at this point, with their cap situation, he's gone. Tough to convince me Metsa and Timmins should be playing on the right over Kesselring in the long run. I think SJ probably just got a gift

Metsa was pretty dang good when I would see him play?

 

[atlanticobserver]

By finishing near the bottom of the league each season?

Only GM doing a better job in the Pacific is McCrimmon. Grier has done a fantastic job in accumulating talent and assets in his time with SJ

 

[Surfer Dude]

Buff had no room for him, he got no time in the PO and will be due for contract.

Great buy low move for MG. In UT he was a top 4D and Buff paid much more for him.

 

[tomd]

By finishing near the bottom of the league each season?

It’s called a rebuild and SJ is about to explode up the standings.