Utah Re-Signs Michael Kesselring To Two-Year Deal

06/28/2024 01:42 PM

The Utah Hockey Club has agreed to terms with defenseman Michael Kesselring on a two-year contract, the team announced today. Per Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff, the contract is worth $2.8MM, which is good for a $1.4MM cap hit.

Kesselring, 24, is coming off a strong rookie season that saw him post five goals, 16 assists, 21 points and a +11 rating with 66 PIMs on the Coyotes blue line. A sixth-round pick of the Oilers in 2018, Edmonton traded Kesselring to Arizona at the 2023 deadline as part of a deal for center Nick Bjugstad.

He was amid a strong season with AHL Bakersfield at the time, racking up 13 goals and 22 points in 49 games, and made his NHL debut with the Yotes after his acquisition. The South Carolina native played in nine games to close out 2022-23, recording his first three major league assists.

Kesselring checks a lot of boxes as a puck-moving right-shot defender with physicality and size. He’s one of the bigger bodies on the Utah roster at 6’4″ and 190 lbs and was one of many pending restricted free agents that general manager Bill Armstrong needs to re-up this summer. NHL regulars Sean Durzi, J.J. Moser and Juuso Välimäki all still need new deals.

More to come…