sports
Sharks acquire defenseman and 27th draft pick from Sabres for 20th selection
The San Jose Sharks obtained defenseman Michael Kesselring and the 27th pick in next week's NHL Entry Draft from the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday. The teams exchanged the 20th overall pick in the deal.
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The San Jose Sharks acquired defenseman Michael Kesselring and the 27th pick in next week's NHL Entry Draft from the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday in exchange for the 20th overall pick. Kesselring, 26, appeared in 34 games during one season with Buffalo after missing time due to injuries and healthy scratches.
He previously played for the Arizona Coyotes and Utah Mammoth organizations from 2022 to 2025 before a June 2025 trade that sent him and forward Josh Doan to the Sabres. Kesselring stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 215 pounds. He is entering restricted free agency on July 1 after completing a two-year contract.
The trade increases the Sharks' options ahead of next week's draft. The team already holds the second overall pick and now adds the 27th selection. San Jose general manager Mike Grier said in a release that Kesselring brings size and two-way play that could strengthen the third defensive pairing.
The move allows the organization to evaluate how the addition fits into broader roster planning for the upcoming season.
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