The San Jose Sharks acquired Buffalo Sabres defenseman Michael Kesselring and the Sabres’ first-round selection in the 2026 NHL Draft for the Sharks’ No. 20 overall pick.The trade for the Sabres is a move up seven spots from the No. 27 selection. For the Sharks, the deal addresses a defense corps that is one of the deficiencies for a team led by burgeoning superstar Macklin Celebrini that improved by 34 points over an NHL-basement finish in 2024-25.“Michael has a big frame with solid two-way ability,” Sharks general manager Mike Grier said in a statement. “He is a responsible player in the defensive zone with a well-rounded offensive game and will be a good upgrade for us patrolling the blueline. We’re happy to have him a part of the organization.”Is Viggo Bjorck the best center in the NHL Draft?Corey Pronman, Scott Wheeler and moreLast summer, the Sabres acquired the 26-year-old Kesselring and Josh Doan from the Utah Mammoth in exchange for JJ Peterka. At the time, after breaking out with Utah the season before, Kesselring looked like a major part of that trade as a young, right-handed defenseman with the potential to play in the top four. While Doan leveled up into an important middle-six performer for the Atlantic Division champion Sabres, Kesselring managed just two assists and had 50 penalty minutes while averaging only 13:24 of ice time.