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

[bringbacktheskate604]

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

I remember last year asking why people thought this guy was good.
He didn't play big minutes in Utah and he wasn't good this year either.
Sharks need a lot better than him to take that next step imo and lucky for them there's some really high potential guys available later this month.

 

[flywithme]

Wanted Kesselring to go to the Ducks, but happy that he'll get his day in the sun in San Jose.

 

[Freaky Styley]

really nice deal for SJ. Feel like Buffalo sold a little low here but he clearly wasn't a fit. SJ probably gets the guy they wanted at 20 anyway with #27

 

[SanJoseRedditor]

Yay we have a RHD now! And we didn't pay much for him either.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

I guess 7 spot drop is fine for Sharks to try and get Kesselring game back on track

Honestly though they could get a more established (non struggling) defender for 20th straight up but I get choice here

 

[Hertl Power]

Just need to wait for his contract. I would like to see it done in the next couple days.

 

[HawksDub89]

Not sure how much it helps long term, but it’s definitely a good move for next year.

smart low risk move.

 

[Hertl Power]

I guess 7 spot drop is fine for Sharks to try and get Kesselring game back on track

Honestly though they could get a more established (non struggling) defender for 20th straight up but I get choice here

I'm assuming if they have a deal centered around the 20th pick. Than they can probably make a similar deal centered around the 27th. If they turn the 20th into two defenseman I would be OK with that.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Really like what San Jose is doing. A defensive upgrade for 7 spots is definitely worth it

 

[Chainshot]

If he was asking for 4-5M, could Buffalo actually prioritize that or was it a move to get something out of the deal?

They couldn't have kept him at that figure if they are keeping Byram as Jarmo has indicated he wants too.

 

[Chainshot]

What do you guys need from the draft?

I've been assuming someone like Murtyn or Cali or Pugachyov or even Rogowski since most of their forward prospects at the moment are on the smaller side so applied size would be an asset. Now? Possibly Morozov.

 

[Chainshot]

This will be a fun trade tree to follow

Considering Peterka was drafted at 34 with the SJ pick in that draft that Buffalo acquired for 38OA and 99OA that year, it's like these two teams do this sort of thing frequently. (There is the also unrelated Sam Dickinson-Kontsa Helenius/Adam Kleber pick swap in 2024 too.)

 

[ManofSteel55]

Good value for Buffalo. Good add to San Jose's roster. Win-win trade!

 

[Oddbob]

Solid move, they needed D and it only cost them 7 spots. The players are all similar in that range of the draft anyhow.

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

Seems like a good trade for both sides, and potentially a great deal for SJ.

 

[Natey]

Great trade by SJS IMO. Hes gonna bounce back

Under 25 6'4 RHD with good potential. I like the deal

He's 26 and will turn 27 this season

 

[themelkman]

I guess 7 spot drop is fine for Sharks to try and get Kesselring game back on track

Honestly though they could get a more established (non struggling) defender for 20th straight up but I get choice here

Its tough because there really isnt many of those guys on the trading block. The top guys we know about are struggling hard or guys like Kesselring or Spence who are bottom 4 guys.

 

[Horton Hears A Woo]

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.

What the hell do you mean have no use for have you seen buffalos RHD on the roster?

 

[Zman5778]

What the hell do you mean have no use for have you seen buffalos RHD on the roster?

All of our top 4 play both sides, and play both sides well.....and they all play well in any combination with each other. We really only need one RHD for the 3rd pair, and Timmins has that spot on lock given his playoff performance.

 

[Zarzh]

I hate this trade because it's a half-measure in both directions. You take a draft pick which you could have success with, and trade it for a mediocre defenseman and a mediocre draft pick.

It's like splitting a quarter into two dimes and calling it a win because if one falls out of your pocket, you'll still have the other one.

 

[Dirty Dog]

I hope he rebounds in San Jose.

as to Buffalo, I don’t think it could be more clear that they had no interest in playing him. He was what, their sixth or seventh RD by the end of the year? Dude clearly had no place and was going to get dumped.

 

[Chainshot]

I hate this trade because it's a half-measure in both directions. You take a draft pick which you could have success with, and trade it for a mediocre defenseman and a mediocre draft pick.

It's like splitting a quarter into two dimes and calling it a win because if one falls out of your pocket, you'll still have the other one.

The Sharks moved 7 places. That suddenly makes the pick mediocre? Wow that's an interesting reaction.

 

[Djp]

If he was asking for 4-5M, could Buffalo actually prioritize that or was it a move to get something out of the deal?

He’s 1 yr to UFA and arb eligible.

They can afford to sign him this year for $4M+ without sacrificing something else.

If he had 2 yrs of team control left, I think they would have resigned him for a 1 yr prove it contract. With him one yr to UFA thry might just see him walk

Iypt will be interesting to see what else happens. They need to trade out a few other players.

 

[Djp]

I remember last year asking why people thought this guy was good.
He didn't play big minutes in Utah and he wasn't good this year either.
Sharks need a lot better than him to take that next step imo and lucky for them there's some really high potential guys available later this month.

He was injured for most of the season. When he played he might have been at 80%

 

[PuckFegula]

Really like what San Jose is doing. A defensive upgrade for 7 spots is definitely worth it

Ya, if you’re adding a roster player for that price you’re doing fine.

I get moving Kesselring early, but doing so to move up 7 spots.. I don’t follow the draft closely, mostly because it’s largely a crapshoot after pick #15 or so. Idk, would be curious how much more likely a #20 pick is to play 500 NHL games vs a #27 pick. I assume there’s a difference, but I’m not certain it’s Kesselring-sized, ah well.

Happy he’s going to my 1b team! Hope he bounces back, just couldn’t stay healthy last year. Seemed like dudes kept falling on his lead leg because he left it there after hits- maybe reading too much into 1 or 2 plays I saw, regardless, hope he can avoid that shit next season.