The Utah Hockey Club has signed Michael Kesselring to a two-year deal worth $2.8 million.
Kesselring, 24, had a solid rookie season with five goals, 16 assists, and a +11 rating. The Oilers drafted him in the sixth round in 2018 but traded him to Arizona for Nick Bjugstad in 2023.
He played well with AHL Bakersfield before moving to the NHL. In nine games with the Coyotes, he got his first three assists. Standing at 6-foot-4 and weighing 190 lbs, Kesselring is known for his size and physical play .
Contract Details:
Fans might think this contract is a great deal for Utah. At $1.4 million per year, it’s affordable given his potential upside. Despite limited NHL experience and no special teams play last season, he matched Evolving Hockey’s contract projection of two years at $1.353 million AAV.
Future Role:
Utah plans to add more defensemen this summer, so Kesselring will likely stay in a third-pairing role after averaging nearly 16 minutes per game last season. His ability to handle more challenging roles remains uncertain, but he’s proven effective in bottom-pairing minutes.
Kesselring’s deal runs through 2026; he’ll still be under team control as an arbitration-eligible RFA afterward.
What do you think about this signing?
