Sabres acquire – Buffalo lands defenceman Olen Zellweger in a trade with Anaheim, with the Ducks receiving prospect Wahlberg in return. Zellweger—drafted 34th overall in 2021—made his NHL debut in January 2024 and produced 22 points in his first regular season before adding a
The NHL Draft is still a few days away, but Buffalo and Anaheim wasted no time reshaping their futures.
The Sabres have acquired defenceman Olen Zellweger from the Ducks in a swap that sends prospect Wahlberg to Anaheim. Zellweger arrived in the league after being taken in the second round—34th overall—by the Ducks in 2021. The 22-year-old made his NHL debut in January 2024, and last season he posted 22 points with 15 assists in the regular season. When the playoffs began, he added a goal and an assist across three games.
For the Ducks, Wahlberg is the immediate prize on the other side of the deal. Wahlberg was taken 39th overall in the 2023 draft by the Sabres and spent last season with AHL Rochester. In 68 games, he recorded 29 assists and 38 points. He’s 20 years old and has yet to make his NHL debut.
The trade also changes how each franchise looks at the 2026 NHL Draft. With the acquisition of the 45th pick. the Ducks now own seven selections in the 2026 NHL Draft—two second-rounders included—but they do not have a first-round pick. Buffalo, meanwhile, is positioned to be busy as the draft approaches, holding two first-round picks—Nos. 4 and 20—in Friday’s first round.
Those picks will be on the clock during the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT, with the Toronto Maple Leafs owning the No. 1 pick as the next group of NHL stars prepares to enter the league. Live NHL Draft coverage begins with the first round on Friday followed by Rounds 2-7 on Saturday. with Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ set to carry it all.
In one clean motion, Buffalo added an NHL-tested defender while Anaheim brought in a developing player still waiting for his first call-up—leaving both teams heading into the draft with draft-day conversations that will sound a little different than they did before the trade.
Sabres Ducks Olen Zellweger Wahlberg 2026 NHL Draft Sportsnet Sportsnet+ NHL trade prospect update