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Matthew Kessel
| Position | Right Defense | Current Team | St. Louis Blues |
| Shoots | Right | Current Contract | 2 years |
| Height | 6'3" | Expires | 2025-26 |
| Weight (lbs) | 212 | Expiry Age (Jun 30) | 26 |
| Age | 25 (June 23, 2000) | Expiry Status | RFA-arb |
| Drafted | 2020, Round 5, Overall 150 (STL) |
| Date | Team | Transaction | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 7, 2025 | St. Louis Blues | Recalled from AHL | |
| Feb 5, 2025 | St. Louis Blues | Assigned to AHL | |
| Jan 31, 2025 | St. Louis Blues | Recalled from AHL | |
| Mar 13, 2024 | St. Louis Blues | Signed 2 years @ $800K AAV starting in 2024-25 | |
| Mar 27, 2022 | St. Louis Blues | Signed to an entry level contract. |
Status History Coming Soon
5v5 Individual Stats
| Season | Team(s) | GP | TOI | G/60 | A/60 | Pts/60 | xG/60 | GAE/60 | Sh% | xSh% | Sh%AE | %SA Rush | %SA Reb. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | STL | 2 | 29:06 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.18 | -0.18 | 0.00 | 2.88 | -2.88 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 2023-24 | STL | 39 | 620:26 | 0.10 | 0.58 | 0.68 | 0.13 | -0.03 | 3.57 | 4.67 | -1.10 | 2.33 | 0.00 |
| 2024-25 | STL | 29 | 367:10 | 0.00 | 0.49 | 0.49 | 0.15 | -0.15 | 0.00 | 5.46 | -5.46 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
5v5 On Ice Stats
| Season | Team(s) | GP | TOI | SAF/60 | GF/60 | xGF/60 | SAA/60 | GA/60 | xGA/60 | GF% | xGF% | xGF Rel | xGA Rel | xGF% Rel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | STL | 2 | 29:06 | 51.55 | 0.00 | 3.03 | 22.68 | 2.06 | 1.33 | 0.00 | 69.49 | 0.65 | -2.26 | 29.63 |
| 2023-24 | STL | 39 | 620:26 | 35.68 | 1.84 | 2.03 | 41.58 | 1.84 | 2.54 | 50.00 | 44.41 | -0.18 | -0.26 | 0.25 |
| 2024-25 | STL | 29 | 367:10 | 35.30 | 2.29 | 2.12 | 37.75 | 2.78 | 2.29 | 45.16 | 48.04 | -0.01 | -0.21 | 2.09 |
NHL Edge Stats
| Skating | Shooting | Zone Time | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | GP | Top Speed | Bursts>20/mi | Avg. Speed | ES Avg. Speed | Top Speed | Avg. Speed | %Long Range | %Mid Range | %High Danger | ES DZ% | ES NZ% | ES OZ% | 2021-22 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2022-23 | 2 | 19.6 | 0.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 83.5 | 73.7 | 66.7 | 33.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.5 |
| 2023-24 | 39 | 20.9 | 0.1 | 8.4 | 8.5 | 93.7 | 68.8 | 73.9 | 26.1 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 |
| 2024-25 | 29 | 21.5 | 0.2 | 8.7 | 8.8 | 90.9 | 73.2 | 53.8 | 46.2 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 2025-26 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Legend
| Percentile 0-25 | Percentile 25-50 | Percentile 50-75 | Percentile 75-100 |
5v5 Defense Pairs
Season
| Season | Teammate | Team | TOI | GF/60 | GA/60 | GF% | xGF/60 | xGA/60 | xGF% | xGF Rel | xGA Rel | xGF% Rel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | STL | 2.22 | 2.77 | 44.44 | 1.98 | 2.22 | 47.13 | -0.06 | -0.29 | 2.30 | ||
| 2024-25 | STL | 1.91 | 2.54 | 42.86 | 2.00 | 2.32 | 46.29 | -0.23 | -0.12 | -1.41 | ||
| 2024-25 | STL | 2.62 | 4.36 | 37.50 | 1.96 | 2.66 | 42.43 | -0.18 | 0.28 | -4.92 | ||
| 2024-25 | STL | 0.00 | 0.00 | - | 2.91 | 1.36 | 68.16 | 0.37 | -1.35 | 19.71 | ||
| 2024-25 | STL | 0.00 | 4.99 | 0.00 | 1.06 | 3.48 | 23.37 | -1.06 | 1.07 | -23.36 | ||
| 2023-24 | STL | 1.44 | 2.08 | 40.91 | 2.15 | 2.55 | 45.73 | -0.02 | -0.22 | 1.79 | ||
| 2023-24 | STL | 3.81 | 0.76 | 83.33 | 2.78 | 2.57 | 51.91 | 0.67 | -0.15 | 8.27 | ||
| 2023-24 | STL | 3.93 | 0.98 | 80.00 | 1.35 | 2.21 | 37.88 | -0.78 | -0.57 | -5.50 | ||
| 2023-24 | STL | 0.00 | 0.00 | - | 1.23 | 2.84 | 30.24 | -0.74 | 0.14 | -11.96 | ||
| 2023-24 | STL | 2.52 | 2.52 | 50.00 | 2.37 | 2.14 | 52.54 | 0.26 | -0.57 | 8.73 | ||
| 2022-23 | STL | 0.00 | 2.64 | 0.00 | 3.28 | 1.66 | 66.38 | 0.92 | -1.64 | 24.66 |
Glossary
| Type | Statistic | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | G/60 | Goals Against per 60 minutes. |
| Individual | A/60 | Assists per 60 minutes. |
| Individual | Pts/60 | Points per 60 minutes. |
| Individual | xG/60 | Expected Goals per 60 minutes. |
| Individual | GAE/60 | Goals Above Expected (G/60 - xG/60). |
| Individual | Sh% | Shooting Percentage. |
| Individual | xSh% | Expected Shooting Percentage. |
| Individual | Sh%AE | Shooting percentage above expected (Sh% - xSh%). |
| Individual | %SA Rush | Percentage of shot attempts determined to be on the rush. |
| Individual | %SA Reb. | Percentage of shot attempts determined to be from rebounds. |
| On Ice | SAF/60 | Shot Attempts For per 60 minutes. |
| On Ice | GF/60 | Goals For per 60 minutes. |
| On Ice | xGF/60 | Expected Goals For per 60 minutes. |
| On Ice | SAA/60 | Shot Attempts Against per 60 minutes (lower is better). |
| On Ice | GA/60 | Goals Against per 60 minutes (lower is better). |
| On Ice | xGA/60 | Expected Goals Against per 60 minutes (lower is better). |
| On Ice | GF% | Goals For Percentage = Goals For / (Goals For + Goals Against) |
| On Ice | xGF% | Expected Goals For Percentage = Expected Goals For / (Expected Goals For + Expected Goals Against) |
| On Ice | xGF Rel | xGF/60 when On Ice - xGF/60 when not On Ice. |
| On Ice | xGA Rel | xGA/60 when On Ice - xGA/60 when not On Ice (lower is better). |
| On Ice | xGF% Rel | xGF% when On Ice - xGF% when not On Ice. |
News and Opinions
-
Observations From Blues' Embarrassing 8-3 Loss Vs. Blackhawks, Falling To 0-2 At Home at Yahoo Sports NHL (Thu Oct 16, 2025)
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St. Louis Blues Announce 2025-26 Opening Night Roster at The Hockey Writers (Tue Oct 7, 2025)
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Observations From Blues' 4-0 Preseason Win Vs. Blackhawks at Yahoo Sports NHL (Sun Oct 5, 2025)
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St. Louis Blues Now Have a Solid Defensive Corps at The Hockey Writers (Thu Oct 2, 2025)
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News And Notes From St. Louis Blues Training Camp (Oct. 1) at Yahoo Sports NHL (Wed Oct 1, 2025)
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Blues’ Bottom Line Combos Already Starting to Stand Out in Preseason Action at The Hockey Writers (Wed Sep 24, 2025)
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(9-20-25) Blues-Stars Preseason Gameday Lineup at Yahoo Sports NHL (Sat Sep 20, 2025)
Current Contract
Standard Contract (RFA) ( ) (0 ratings)
Entry Level Contract ( ) (0 ratings)
| Season | Age* | Clause | Cap Hit | AAV | Perf. Bonus | Sign. Bonus | Salary | Compensation | Minors Salary | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 22 | $883,750 | $925,000 | $8,250 | $92,500 | $750,000 | $842,500 | $80,000 | ELC | ||
| 2023-24 | 23 | $883,750 | $925,000 | - | $92,500 | $832,500 | $925,000 | $80,000 | ELC | ||
| Total | $8,250 | $185,000 | $1,582,500 | $1,767,500 | $160,000 |
Career Statistics
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | League | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | Shots | Sh% | TOI/G | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | Shots | Sh% | TOI/G |
| 2012-13 | QC Int PW | Detroit Honeybaked | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |||||||||||||
| 2013-14 | HPHL 13U | Little Caesars 13U AAA | 20 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 14 | |||||||||||||
| 2014-15 | HPHL 14U | Little Caesars 14U AAA | 17 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 8 | |||||||||||||
| 2015-16 | HPHL 16U | Little Caesars 16U AAA | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 2015-16 | USA-S15 | Team Royal | 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | ||||||||||||||
| 2016-17 | HPHL 16U | Compuware 16U AAA | 20 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 32 | |||||||||||||
| 2016-17 | USA-S16 | Team Orange | 5 | 0 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||
| 2017-18 | USHL | Fargo Force | 32 | 0 | 3 | 3 | +16 | 18 | ||||||||||||
| 2017-18 | USA-S17 | Team Royal | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||
| 2017-18 | USHL | Chicago Steel | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3 | 4 | 3 | -2 | 2 | |||||||||
| 2018-19 | USHL | Sioux Falls Stampede | 62 | 2 | 17 | 19 | +23 | 38 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 4 | +10 | 14 | ||||||
| 2019-20 | NCAA | Univ. of Massachusetts | 34 | 7 | 4 | 11 | +13 | 48 | ||||||||||||
| 2020-21 | NCAA | Univ. of Massachusetts | 29 | 10 | 13 | 23 | +15 | 16 | ||||||||||||
| 2021-22 | NCAA | Univ. of Massachusetts | 37 | 6 | 11 | 17 | +9 | 22 | ||||||||||||
| 2021-22 | AHL | Springfield Thunderbirds | 15 | 0 | 3 | 3 | +9 | 8 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 6 | ||||||
| 2022-23 | NHL | St. Louis Blues | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 3 | 0.0 | 15:10 | ||||||||||
| 2022-23 | AHL | Springfield Thunderbirds | 71 | 5 | 28 | 33 | -1 | 66 | 2 | -1 | ||||||||||
| 2023-24 | NHL | St. Louis Blues | 39 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 28 | 3.6 | 16:48 | ||||||||||
| 2023-24 | AHL | Springfield Thunderbirds | 36 | 3 | 5 | 8 | +1 | 16 | ||||||||||||
| 2023-24 | WC | USA | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +3 | |||||||||||||
| 2023-24 | International | Team USA | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +3 | |||||||||||||
| 2024-25 | AHL | Springfield Thunderbirds | 29 | 5 | 12 | 17 | +10 | 25 | ||||||||||||
| 2024-25 | NHL | St. Louis Blues | 29 | 0 | 3 | 3 | -3 | 10 | 17 | 0.0 | 13:08 | |||||||||
| NHL Career | 70 | 1 | 9 | 10 | -4 | 22 | 48 | 2.1 | 15:14 | |||||||||||