Utah HC signs Michael Kesselring to two-year, $1.4M AAV contract
One of the young blueliners on the NHL’s “newest” team is planning on sticking around for a couple of years.
On Friday, Utah Hockey Club announced they have signed defenseman Michael Kesselring to a two-year contract.
Michael Kesselring's new deal with #UtahHC: 2 years x $1.4 million.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 28, 2024Kesselring is coming off his entry-level contract, which saw him have a cap hit of $925,000.
“We are very pleased to have Michael as part of our club,” Utah General Manager Bill Armstrong said in a release. “He skates well, moves the puck effectively, and has a strong shot that can provide offense from the blueline. We look forward to having Michael in Utah for years to come.”
Kesselring played a career-high 65 games in the NHL this past season. With the Arizona Coyotes, the New Hampton, New Hampshire native potted five goals and 21 points, third in scoring among Arizona defensemen. He ended up with a plus/minus of +11, good for second on the team.
The 24-year-old was initially taken by the Edmonton Oilers in the sixth round of the 2018 NHL Draft. After spending over two seasons with the Oilers’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, he was traded to the Coyotes on March 2, 2023 which saw Edmonton acquire Nick Bjugstad and Cam Dineen.
Over the past year and change, Kesselring has played with both the Coyotes and the Tucson Roadrunners of the AHL. In 74 NHL appearances, he has scored five goals and 19 assists. With Bakersfield and Tucson, the former Northeastern standout has registered 18 goals and 27 assists, including three assists in 15 Calder Cup Playoff games.
As a result of the signing, Utah HC has 29 standard player contracts on board for next season. According to CapFriendly, the team has over $42.3 million in projected cap space for the 2024-25 campaign.