The Buffalo Sabres continued the hit parade on Wednesday, pulling off a trade with the San Jose Sharks.
The Sharks acquired Michael Kesselring and the 27th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, while Buffalo got back the 20th overall selection. As such, the deal was essentially the Sabres paying Kesselring to move up.
But this deal wasn’t so much about moving up. It was about the Sharks building their blueline depth. Be that as it may, the Sabres now have a top-20 pick. And with that, the calculus as to who Buffalo could select has changed.
So, here’s a look at the top three potential picks for the Sabres at No. 20 in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Top 3 picks for Sabres at No. 20 in 2026 NHL Draft
Gleb Pugachyov, F, MHL
In his mock draft, The Athletic’s Corey Pronman opted for Gleb Pugachyov as the Sharks’ pick at #20. That assessment was made with the idea that the Sharks would select a defenseman with the second overall pick.
Now that Buffalo is in that slot, Pugachyov could still be an intriguing pick. The Sabres could use another prospect with power forward potential. The 18-year-old Russian winger stands at 6’3” and 198 pounds. NHL Central Scouting ranks him as the 9th-best European Skater.
Elite Prospects described Pugachyov as follows:
“Throwing soul-crushing hits on the regular and violently fighting for inside positioning every chance he gets, Pugachyov projects to bring a significant intimidation factor at the NHL level.”
He’s a good skater for his size and has the skill set to become a tough customer in the NHL. He scored 10 goals and 24 points in 33 games for the Chaika Nizhny Novgorod of the MHL. This upcoming season, Pugachyov will be moving on to the KHL with the Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod.
While the ETA for Pugachyov could still be a couple of seasons away, the idea of getting another power forward in the fold should help the Sabres replace a forward like Alex Tuch in the long run.
Ryan Lin, D, WHL
Ryan Lin has to be the most possible option here at No. 20. Pronman’s mock draft has him going at No. 22 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. However, if he’s still on the board at No. 20, the Sabres would do well to scoop up 18-year-old Richmond, BC native.
Elite Prospects describes Lin as an NHL-ready defenseman with solid mobility.
“Lin already looks like an NHL defender. Combining high-end mobility, stick work, and physicality, he makes the tricky stops look routine. He defends the middle with intent, using every defensive skill possible to push opponents to the perimeter…”
Lin is committed to the University of Denver for next season. That’s something that should excite fans, as Lin will get a chance to play for coach David Carle in the NCAA Champion program. This past season, Lin played for the Vancouver Giants of the WHL. He put up 14 goals and 57 points in 53 games. While those numbers won’t necessarily translate to the NCAA, they do show Lin’s offensive upside.
Lin has drawn comparisons to Alexandre Carrier of the Montreal Canadiens. If that’s his ceiling, he wouldn’t be a bad pick at all at this spot in the 2026 NHL Draft. The right-shot D could eventually take on a top-four NHL role in time.
Jack Hextall, F, USHL
Another intriguing option for the Buffalo Sabres is Jack Hextall. Jack, who’s a distant relative of Philadelphia Flyers legend Ron Hextall, is earmarked for Philly at No. 21 in Pronman’s mock draft. Even though there are about five other solid centers in this draft class, Hextall might not make it to No. 20. But assuming he does slip through, the 18-year-old could be a solid pick for the Sbares.
What’s more interesting is the comparison Pronman made for Hextall. The future Michigan State forward has drawn comparisons to Sabres forward Peyton Krebs. If that’s Hextall’s ceiling, the Sabres would be thrilled to have him aboard.
Pronman ranks Hextall as the 19th-best prospect in the draft. So, there’s a very good chance he’ll still be on the board by the time the Sabres pick.
Elite Prospects offered this encouraging description of Hextall:
“A versatile player, Hextall presents himself as an option below the goal line, at the half-wall, and high in the zone. Teammates can bounce passes off of him, and when the play breaks down, Hextall has enough of a shot to finish on his own.”
If Hextall can really hit his ceiling, he could end up becoming a decent middle-six center. At worst, he could become a solid option on the wings.
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