Sharks sign – San Jose signed defenceman Michael Kesselring to a three-year contract worth an annual average of $4.5 million on Sunday, after trading the 20th-overall pick from Friday’s NHL Draft. The move follows a draft-night reshuffle that left Kesselring’s path to the S
A deal that began with a draft-night reshuffle is now official in San Jose.
The Sharks signed defenceman Michael Kesselring to a three-year contract with an annual-average value of $4.5 million on Sunday, sources confirmed to Sportsnet.
It wasn’t just a free-agent signing or a simple roster tweak. San Jose traded the 20th-overall pick in Friday’s NHL Draft to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for Kesselring and the 27th pick.
Buffalo used the 20th pick to select forward Ilia Morozov. San Jose then used the 27th selection as part of a package to trade up again and take defenceman Ryan Lin at No. 21.
Kesselring arrives with a recent dip in production. but the Sharks’ pitch is built around what he can do at both ends of the rink. In 2025-26, he was limited to just 34 regular-season games, recording two assists. The prior season looked different: in 2024-25, he played all 82 games for the Utah Mammoth, scoring seven goals and 29 points.
Buffalo acquired Kesselring in the 2025 off-season in a deal that sent JJ Peterka to Utah, alongside the acquisition of Josh Doan.
Sharks general manager Mike Grier framed the signing as an upgrade to their defensive group. In a statement on Wednesday. Grier said: “Michael has a big frame with solid two-way ability. ” adding that “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 blue line. We’re happy to have him a part of the organization.”.
Now the Sharks will have to make the numbers and the two-way promise line up on ice, with Kesselring’s immediate NHL role tied to what San Jose planned when it swapped the 20th pick away and rebuilt the board around Lin at 21.
San Jose Sharks Michael Kesselring NHL Draft Buffalo Sabres Ilia Morozov Ryan Lin Mike Grier JJ Peterka Josh Doan