The San Jose Sharks have acquired defenceman Michael Kesselring and the No. 27 selection in the 2026 NHL Draft from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for the No. 20 pick.
Kesselring, 26, only appeared in 36 games this season due to an ankle injury.
He had two assists in 34 games this season while averaging 13:24 of ice time and appeared in one playoff game before the Sabres were eliminated in the second round.
The 6-foot-5, right-shot blueliner is coming off a two-year, $2.8 million contract that carried a cap hit of $1.4 million and is a restricted free agent.
Kesselring was acquired by the Sabres, along with forward Josh Doan, from the Utah Mammoth in June of 2025 in exchange for forward JJ Peterka.
Drafted 164th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 2018, Kesselring has 12 goals and 55 points in 190 games split between the Arizona Coyotes, Mammoth, and Sabres.
The Florence, S.C., native helped the United States end a 92-year drought at the World Hockey Championship, winning gold in 2025.
