Sabres-Sharks agree to major trade involving multiple first-round draft picks

The Buffalo Sabres are now picking in the top 20 of the 2026 NHL draft after agreeing to a major trade with the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday, just nine days out from draft night.

“We have acquired a first-round pick (20th overall) in the 2026 NHL Draft from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Michael Kesselring and a first-round pick (27th overall),” the Sabres posted on X.

Kesselring was acquired by Buffalo last year along with forward Josh Doan in a deal that sent forward JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth. In his lone season with the Sabres, Kesselring totaled just two points in 34 games while averaging 13:23 of ice time per game.

He was penciled in to play a top-four role in the preseason but was used as a bottom-pairing defenseman and depth player as the season wore on. The 26-year-old blue-liner is set to become a restricted free agent, and most expressed doubt that he wanted to re-sign with Buffalo.

While the trade moves the Sabres up seven spots into the top 20, it doesn’t help them add more draft capital. Buffalo has just four selections in the 2026 draft — Round 1, Round 4, Round 5, and Round 6.

Conversely, San Jose adds a young defenseman to a blue-line group that has just four player sunder contract next season — Dmitry Orlov, Sam Dickinson, Mattias Havelid, and Luca Cagnoni.

Five Sharks defensemen — Nick Leddy, John Klingberg, Vincent Desharnais, Mario Ferraro, Shakir Mukhamadullin — are set to hit free agency.

San Jose still has two first-round picks (No. 2 and 27 overall), plus picks in Rounds 2, 4 (two), 5, 6, and 7.