Just over 24 hours following the blockbuster trade between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Philadelphia Flyers, there’s one other trade to report out of the National Hockey League.
San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier has picked up a promising young defenseman from the Buffalo Sabres, acquiring Michael Kesselring together with the twenty seventh overall pick within the upcoming 2026 NHL Draft. In return, the Sharks sent the twentieth overall pick back to the Sabres.
WE’VE GOT A TRADE 🔀
Hello Michael Kesselring and twenty seventh overall!
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) June 17, 2026
In accordance with Grier, the acquisition of Kesselring will give them a flexible defender whom they feel is an upgrade on the blue line.
“Michael has an enormous frame with solid two-way ability,” said Grier via NHL.com. “He’s a responsible player within the defensive zone with a well rounded offensive game, and shall be an excellent upgrade for us patrolling the blueline. We’re glad to have him an element of the organization.”
The move also reunites him with head coach Ryan Warsofsky, who coached Kesselring with Team USA within the 2025 World Championship through which they claimed the gold medal for the primary time in nearly a century.
Kesselring was chosen within the sixth round (164th overall pick) by the Edmonton Oilers within the 2018 NHL Draft. But in March 2023, he can be traded together with a 2023 third-round pick to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Nick Bjugstad and Cam Dineen. Eventually, the Coyotes moved to Salt Lake City and have become often known as the Utah Hockey Club, and later, the Utah Mammoth.
Kesselring was traded last summer to the Sabres with Josh Doan within the J.J. Peterka deal. In 190 profession NHL games, he’s scored 12 goals with 43 assists.
Just over 24 hours following the blockbuster trade between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Philadelphia Flyers, there’s one other trade to report out of the National Hockey League. San Jose Sharks general manager Mike Grier has picked up a promising young defenseman from the Buffalo Sabres, acquiring Michael Kesselring together with the twenty seventh overall pick within the upcoming 2026 NHL Draft.