Michael Kesselring believes he deserved a more comprehensive opportunity to prove himself during a one-year stay with the Buffalo Sabres, but the defenseman doesn't hold a grudge against the franchise.
Kesselring arrived to Western New York from the Utah Mammoth as part of the blockbuster JJ Peterka trade in June 2025. The 6-foot-5 blueliner was initially viewed as a potential long-term partner for Owen Power on the club's second defensive pair.
The 26-year-old South Carolina native struggled to overcome a series of injuries, however, and the Sabres traded him to the San Jose Sharks ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft in order to move up seven spots, going from the No. 27 overall pick to No. 20.
"I think most of it was on me," Kesselring told Curtis Pashelka of the Bay Area News Group ahead of Buffalo's visit to San Jose on Tuesday night. "You've got to be an adult, and I should have said I was hurting a little bit more than I (let on). I should have mentally handled it better. Then I could feel I was running out of chances."
Kesselring's skating was highly regarded, particularly for a defender with his size, when he joined Buffalo's roster. The injuries, which included a high-ankle sprain, appeared to sap his first-stride acceleration, which prevented him from making the expected two-way impact.
He thought his moment was finally about to arrive when the Sabres shook up their blue line ahead of last season's trade deadline, highlighted by the acquisition of fellow defender Logan Stanley. Things just didn't work out in the end, though.
"Once they made the trades, I honestly thought me and Stanley were kind of going to play together. That's what I thought," Kesselring told Pashelka. "Then we played San Jose actually in (Buffalo), and I thought we played pretty well, and then I just didn't play."
The 2018 sixth-round pick finished his only campaign in Buffalo with zero goals and two assists across 34 appearances. The front office juggled its defensive group again over the summer, as Bowen Byram departed with Olen Zellweger and Louis Crevier among the additions.
While things didn't work out with the Sabres, Kesselring is happy for the chance to play consistently again as a member of the Sharks. He's tallied two assists in 12 games.
"I've been thinking about it in the last over the last week, and I can't even describe how much I just feel like myself again. Like, it's relieving," the defenseman explained to Pashelka.
Buffalo and San Jose are scheduled for a 10:30 p.m. ET faceoff Tuesday night at the SAP Center.
Ilia Morozov became the Sabres' piece of the Michael Kesselring trade
There were rumors leading up to the draft that Buffalo was interested in Ilia Morozov, who was the youngest player in college hockey last season. Those proved accurate as the team selected the Miami (Ohio) center with the No. 20 selection it received in the Kesselring deal.
The early returns on the 18-year-old Russian have been super promising. He's scored five goals in the RedHawks' first six games of the 2026-27 season.
That production comes on the heels of a freshman campaign at Miami where he registered 20 points (eight goals and 12 assists) across 36 appearances.
Morozov already has an NHL-ready frame (6'3'', 204 pounds), and his skill set makes him a strong bet to eventually emerge as a highly dependable middle-six center for Buffalo. He's proved reliable in his own zone and his offensive game continues to evolve in a positive direction.
GOALL for Ilia Morozov!!#RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/CtmzowZluP
— Miami Hockey (@MiamiOH_Hockey) October 23, 2026
It wouldn't be a surprise if the center signs his entry-level contract with the Sabres after the current NCAA season ends, giving him a chance to play a few games with the AHL's Rochester Americans to begin adjusting to the rigors of pro hockey.
Morozov may need a full season with the Amerks before he enters the conversation as a possible full-time member of Buffalo's roster. He could attempt to accelerate that timetable if he's able to keep building on his early offensive success for Miami this season.
At his peak, the left-shot forward could play a meaningful role for the Sabres in all three phases (even strength, power play and penalty kill) given his well-rounded skill set.
That'd represent a much larger impact than Kesselring was able to carve out during his only year with the club, though a lot of that was outside of his control.
Add us as a preferred source on Google