The Buffalo Sabres didn’t waste much time finding a replacement for Bowen Byram. Days after shipping the defenseman to Chicago, they pulled off another trade — this time with Anaheim — landing Olen Zellweger.
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Sabres sent forward Anton Wahlberg and the 45th overall pick to the Ducks in exchange for Zellweger. It’s a move that fills a hole on Buffalo’s blue line while also signaling what kind of defender the front office actually wants.
Zellweger, 22, was a second-round pick by Anaheim in 2021. He played 164 games for the Ducks over the last three seasons and hit career highs across the board in 2025-26. That includes 76 games played, five goals and 22 points. He also got his first taste of playoff hockey this spring, appearing in three games and posting two points.
What the Sabres are getting
Zellweger is small by NHL defenseman standards. He’s listed at 5-foot-10 and around 175 pounds. But he skates well and moves the puck, which is clearly what Buffalo wants more of on the back end. Byram was more of a straight-ahead, physical presence. Zellweger plays a different game — quicker, more transitional, more about starting the rush than stopping it.
The Sabres have been trying to find the right mix on defense for a while now. Dahlén and Power are the bigger bodies. Zellweger and Samuelsson give them some mobility. Whether the math works out is another question, but the front office seems to have a direction in mind.
Wahlberg was a 2023 second-round pick and projects as a depth forward. The 45th pick this year gives Anaheim some flexibility in a draft where they already own multiple selections. For the Ducks, this is about adding assets and clearing a spot for younger guys coming up.
No official confirmation from either team yet, but Friedman is as plugged in as they come. Expect the Sabres to announce the deal later today as part of their draft weekend moves.
More on this trade and every NHL Draft day transaction as details come in.
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