The San Jose Sharks traded for a defenseman on Wednesday, June 17 and also changed where they will select in the first round of this month’s NHL draft.
The Sharks acquired Michael Kesselring from the Buffalo Sabres. As part of the trade, they will move seven spots down in the 2026 draft, giving up their 20th overall pick for Buffalo’s No. 27 pick. The 20th pick was previously acquired from Edmonton in the Jake Walman trade.
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Kesselring was limited to 34 games because of injury and had only two assists. But he had seven goals and 29 points in 2024-25 with Utah, which sent him to Buffalo with Josh Doan in the J.J. Peterka trade.
The Sharks were in need of defensive depth with John Klingberg, Mario Ferraro, Nick Leddy and Vincent Desharnais potentially heading to unrestricted free agency. Kesseling is a restricted free agent.
The Sharks will now select second and 27th in the first round of the June 26-27 draft. They got the No. 2 overall pick in the second draft lottery drawing.
Sharks-Sabres trade grades
Sharks: B-
The Sharks need defensive depth and Kesselring showed promise during his time in Utah. They still hang onto their two first-round picks but will select 27th instead of 20th with their second pick.
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Sabres: B
Kesselring didn’t pan out in Buffalo because of an injury. They move him rather than re-sign him and jump seven spots in the draft.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sharks trade for Michael Kesselring, swap NHL draft picks with Sabres
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