Utah HC’s Michael Kesselring breaks NHL Edge record for hardest shot 

During Thursday’s 5-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, Utah Hockey Club’s Michael Kesselring broke the NHL Edge record for the hardest shot recorded in an NHL game at 103.77 MPH.

According to NHL Edge data, it was Kesselring’s fourth shot attempt this season of at least 90 mph. Kesselring also ranks among the league leaders in top skating speed at 22.29 mph.

NHL Edge data has been tracked since the 2021-22 campaign.

Kesselring’s shot breaks the previous record held by Winnipeg Jets defenseman Colin Miller, who recorded a shot at 102.59 mph against the Dallas Stars on Jan. 20 last season.

Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman held the previous hardest shot this season at 98.97 MPH, with Mattias Ekholm, Dylan Holloway, Nils Lundkvist, Evan Bouchard, J.T. Miller, John Carlson, Jake Walman and Cale Makar among those in the top 10.

Kesselring has tallied two goals and two assists for four points, a plus-6 and 11 shots on goal in eight games this season. The 24-year-old signed a two-year, $1.4M AAV contract extension with Utah in the summer.

The South California native 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 (AHL) affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, he was traded to the Arizona Coyotes on March 2, 2023. In 82 NHL appearances with Utah and Arizona, he has scored seven goals and 21 assists for 28 points.

Utah will face the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday in a matinee game and the San Jose Sharks on Monday. Utah is currently 4-3-1 and sits fifth in the Central Division.