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

[Crewouse]

Nurse doesn't want to go to San Jose.

I also don't want Nurse to go to San Jose

 

[Em etah Eh]

I'm pretty sure it wouldn't take a 1st for them to get Nurse. Grier should probably be fired if he does that

San Jose is going to keep flipping the pick for Assets until it gets to “Nurse Value” haha.

 

[Bizz]

hot damn.

one more piece and we're Cup favorites.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Has he given his list of teams?

I believe he has and it sounds like he wants to go East and didn't have the Sharks on that list.

 

[Yatzhee]

Perfect trade for both teams

Actually, if anyone outside of Buffalo watched the Sabres games this season, they’d immediately recognize there were 2 defensemen way ahead of Kesselring given his injuries and known unhappiness with not being in the Dahlin, Samuelsson, Power, Byram top 4.

Even when he wasn’t injured and played, his performances were subpar.

 

[SirPaste]

I like this move for both teams, I think Kesselring is a good player just had a lot of injury issues and didn’t really adapt to Buffalo but should be able to bounce back if healthy

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Gross

No they won’t

No it will be Rielly

 

[Mattilaus]

Value is meh for Buffalo, but he also had a bad year and was extremely expendable so meh value makes sense.

Maybe he can rebound in SJ.

 

[GetRidOfOettinger]

Top 20 pick for a 2nd pairing in Nurse-Kesselring is a hell of a haul

That' poor value, considering they could get Nurse level talent for free

 

[Erep]

I believe he has and it sounds like he wants to go East and didn't have the Sharks on that list.

Rumor seemed like it was LA or East Coast, but yeah not Sharks, fortunately.

 

[TommyDangles]

More than I thought he was worth. Guessed around a 3rd. Move up from 20th to 27th is mid 2nd value.

 

[Tasteless Beaver]

Tidy business for SJ. Wouldn't this suggest that Buffalo is pretty confident they're retaining Stanley?

 

[TommyDangles]

Tidy business for SJ. Wouldn't this suggest that Buffalo is pretty confident they're retaining Stanley?

No. Stanley will get overpaid by somebody. Kesselring just had no future here. Ruff doesn't like him.

 

[BHFAN92]

Great move by San Jose. Fills a position of need and gives them way more flexibility at #2. I just wish the Blackhawks had a real GM like San Jose. Must be nice

 

[Canovin]

That' poor value, considering they could get Nurse level talent for free

Nurse is overpaid but he's still a 2nd pairing D. That's right around a late 1st value. Some late 1sts prospects don't ever make the NHL

 

[hotcabbagesoup]

So Buffalo traded Peterka and 27 for Doan and 20.

Hard to be mad at that.

Got the best player in the deal. Doan >> Peterka

 

[Czechboy]

Smart move from SJ imo.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Interesting

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Value is meh for Buffalo, but he also had a bad year and was extremely expendable so meh value makes sense.

Maybe he can rebound in SJ.

If he was bad last year and extremely expendable, isn't moving up 7 spots in the draft actually good value for Buffalo? You guys basically moved up in the draft for a player you don't want or see a spot for.

 

[Maurice of Orange]

Does this mean San Jose is drafting Stenberg

This trade seems like it would indicate that Grier is going to take Ivar Stenberg with the 2nd pick, since they have acquired a RD in Kesselring.

It would also open up the possibility for San Jose to take a defenseman with the 27th pick, one that would be allowed to go through a full development.

 

[CF84]

All around, this just seems like a solid trade for both teams.

 

[Yatzhee]

If he was bad last year and extremely expendable, isn't moving up 7 spots in the draft actually good value for Buffalo? You guys basically moved up in the draft for a player you don't want or see a spot for.

This is a part of it. Also he was an RFA with 1 season to UFA status, he’s going to be looking to get some pay, and right now Buffalo is going to be shedding some cap, both this coming season and next to re-sign and add.
In case no one’s noticed, the Sabres have arrived in the playoff hunt, Jarmo will be looking to increase that competitive edge, something Kesselring was expendable for given Doan’s arrival and the expected re-signing of Byram.

 

[zombie kopitar]

and the expected re-signing of Byram.

can Sharks has him too pls?

 

[richo]

Kesselring was decent in Arizona. With injuries and a stacked Buffalo D there just was no room for him in Buffalo. As a Sharks fan I like this. Looking like Stenberg now. Misa-Stenberg-Eklund will be a very good second line.

 

[MOGlLNY]

hot damn.

one more piece and we're Cup favorites.

Lmao