Sharks land Kesselring, move back in 2026 first-round order

San Jose Sharks acquire defenseman Michael Kesselring from Buffalo Sabres, trading their No. 20 pick to Buffalo in exchange for the Sabres’ No. 27 pick and Kesselring. The 26-year-old, 6-foot-5 right-shot D had a down year in Buffalo (2 assists in 34 games) but showed promise with Utah in 2024-25, and now figures to compete for significant minutes on a Sharks blueline that includes Dmitry Orlov and Sam Dickinson, with Kesselring and Mukhamadullin as RFAs. The deal effectively moves San Jose down seven spots in a draft where the No. 20 vs. No. 27 gap is valued at roughly a mid-second-round pick, making it a low-cost risk with potential upside.