Email: feedback@thestanleycap.com
Subscription Plans
Register
Login
If you enjoy TheStanleyCap.com and want to keep it ad-free and support future growth please consider subscribing or making a donation. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Photo of NHL player Michael Kesselring

Buffalo Sabres Logo Michael Kesselring

Position Right Defense Current Team Buffalo Sabres
Shoots Right Current Contract 2 years
Height 6'5" Expires 2025-26
Weight (lbs) 215 Expiry Age (Jun 30) 26
Age 25 (Jan 13, 2000) Expiry Status RFA-arb
Drafted 2018, Round 6, Overall 164 (EDM)
Date Team Transaction
Nov 17, 2025 Buffalo Sabres Placed on IR
Oct 28, 2025 Buffalo Sabres Activated from IR
Oct 6, 2025 Buffalo Sabres Placed on IR
Jun 26, 2025 Buffalo Sabres Acquired from Utah Hockey Club
Jun 26, 2025 Utah Mammoth Traded to Buffalo Sabres
Jun 28, 2024 Utah Hockey Club Signed 2 years @ $1.400M AAV starting in 2024-25
Mar 22, 2021 Edmonton Oilers Signed to an entry level contract.
Status History Coming Soon

2025-26 Player Card



URL: https://www.thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20252026/michael-kesselring-8480891.png

2024-25 Player Card



URL: https://www.thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20242025/michael-kesselring-8480891.png

2023-24 Player Card



URL: https://www.thestanleycap.com/cdn/player_cards/20232024/michael-kesselring-8480891.png

About Player Cards

Player cards present an infographic of a players performance. In this case it shows the player performance over a 3 season span. Each square is separated into three separate sub-boxes with the two smaller boxes on top representing the past two seasons and the larger box on the bottom representing the current or most recent season. This allows the reader to guage how consistent a player has been, and if early in the season it can help identify whether a players performance may be impacted by small sample size and subject to regression or is consistent with recent past performance.

Notes and Definitions
  • The numbers represent percentiles so the higher the better.
  • Percentiles are determined by comparing Forwards to Forwards and Defensemen to Defensemen.
  • Bursts/mi are calculated from NHL Edge Data are are speed bursts above 20mpg per mile skated. The NHL doesn't adjust for ice time so the players that skate more will naturally have more bursts over 20, or at least more opportunity to have more. The NHL also does not provide ice time in the context of NHL Edge Statistics, however, it does provide distance skated. By adjusting for distance skated it will have a similar effect to adjusting for ice time but also adjust for situationional effect. For example, Players don't typically skate as much on the PK, mostly within the defensive zone, so don't get significant opportunity in that ice time to get speed bursts above 20mph. Adjusting with miles skates would account for this better than adjusting with ice time.
  • Sh%AE is Shooting Percentage above Expected (Sh% - xSh%) and is an indicator of how good a shooter is at converting chances into goals.
  • Relative statistics are On Ice - Off Ice statistics and can be an indicator of whether the player makes his teammates better or worse.
  • All data is 5v5 except Shooting Hardest and Average, Skating Top Speed and Bursts/mi which are all situations, ES Average which is even strength (NHL doesn't give a specific definition).
Data Sources
Terms of Use

You are free to use include player cards in written articles, share on social media, or on other public websites under the following conditions:

  • You credit TheStanleyCap.com as the source and provide a link back to TheStanleyCap.com or this player page.
  • You do not mass copy/duplicate/publish dozens or hundreds of player cards. A few, or a handful for a written article is fine. Be reasonable. Fair use rules apply.
  • If you are a high-traffic website you must download and host the image(s) on your site rather than overload TheStanleyCap servers with traffic.

Note: The image will update daily throughout the season so if you want to include snapshot then you must download the image.

If you have any questions, send an e-mail to the e-mail address at the top of this page.

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 ARI 9 133:26 0.00 1.35 1.35 0.25 -0.25 0.00 7.08 -7.08 0.00 0.00
2023-24 ARI 65 973:37 0.31 0.80 1.11 0.24 0.07 6.85 5.36 1.49 0.79 0.00
2024-25 UTA 82 1298:11 0.23 0.83 1.06 0.25 -0.02 3.79 4.12 -0.33 0.51 1.03
2025-26 BUF 9 127:51 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.33 -0.33 0.00 6.94 -6.94 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 ARI 9 133:26 37.32 2.25 2.16 42.27 2.70 2.41 45.45 47.21 -0.10 -0.29 1.64
2023-24 ARI 65 973:37 43.08 3.02 2.48 41.17 2.40 2.50 55.68 49.81 0.09 -0.08 1.74
2024-25 UTA 82 1298:11 45.34 2.13 2.55 38.13 1.71 2.12 55.42 54.60 0.02 -0.09 1.23
2025-26 BUF 9 127:51 35.67 1.88 2.03 43.64 2.82 1.97 40.00 50.69 -0.45 -0.75 3.05

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%
This table is for Basic and Premium subscribers only. To view please login to and/or subscribe to one of our subscription plans.

Legend

Percentile 0-25 Percentile 25-50 Percentile 50-75 Percentile 75-100
Forwards are compared with forwards and Defensemen are are compared with Defensemen.

5v5 Defense Pairs

Season
Season Teammate Team TOI GF/60 GA/60 GF% xGF/60 xGA/60 xGF% xGF Rel xGA Rel xGF% Rel
This table is for Basic and Premium subscribers only. To view please login to and/or subscribe to one of our subscription plans. 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27 2027-28 2028-29 2030-31 2031-32 2032-33 2033-34 2034-35

Glossary

Type Statistic Definition
IndividualG/60Goals Against per 60 minutes.
IndividualA/60Assists per 60 minutes.
IndividualPts/60Points per 60 minutes.
IndividualxG/60Expected Goals per 60 minutes.
IndividualGAE/60Goals Above Expected (G/60 - xG/60).
IndividualSh%Shooting Percentage.
IndividualxSh%Expected Shooting Percentage.
IndividualSh%AEShooting percentage above expected (Sh% - xSh%).
Individual%SA RushPercentage of shot attempts determined to be on the rush.
Individual%SA Reb.Percentage of shot attempts determined to be from rebounds.
On IceSAF/60Shot Attempts For per 60 minutes.
On IceGF/60Goals For per 60 minutes.
On IcexGF/60Expected Goals For per 60 minutes.
On IceSAA/60Shot Attempts Against per 60 minutes (lower is better).
On IceGA/60Goals Against per 60 minutes (lower is better).
On IcexGA/60Expected Goals Against per 60 minutes (lower is better).
On IceGF%Goals For Percentage = Goals For / (Goals For + Goals Against)
On IcexGF%Expected Goals For Percentage = Expected Goals For / (Expected Goals For + Expected Goals Against)
On IcexGF RelxGF/60 when On Ice - xGF/60 when not On Ice.
On IcexGA RelxGA/60 when On Ice - xGA/60 when not On Ice (lower is better).
On IcexGF% RelxGF% when On Ice - xGF% when not On Ice.
Individual and On-Ice stats from Puckalytics.com (starting in 2015-16). NHL Edge Stats from edge.nhl.com (starting in 2021-22). Edge statistic definitions can be found at the Edge Stats Glossary.

News and Opinions

Current Contract

Michael Kesselring signed a $2,800,000 2-year contract with the Utah Hockey Club and General Manager Bill Armstrong on June 28, 2024 with an AAV of $1,400,000. This contract will start in 2024-25 and end after the 2025-26 season. In the first season of the contract the cap hit was equivalent to 1.59% of the salary cap.

Standard Contract (RFA) ( )  (0 ratings)

Season Age* Clause Cap Hit AAV Perf. Bonus Sign. Bonus Salary Compensation Minors Salary Status
2024-25 24 $1,400,000 $1,400,000 - - $1,400,000 $1,400,000 $1,400,000 RFA-arb
2025-26 25 $1,400,000 $1,400,000 - - $1,400,000 $1,400,000 $1,400,000 RFA-arb
Total - - $2,800,000 $2,800,000 $2,800,000
Signed: June 28, 2024
Team: Utah Hockey Club
GM: Bill Armstrong
Exp. Status: RFA-arb
Cap %: 1.59

Previous Contracts (show) (hide)

Michael Kesselring signed a $2,775,000 3-year contract with the Edmonton Oilers and General Manager Ken Holland on March 22, 2021 with an AAV of $925,000. This contract will start in 2021-22 and end after the 2023-24 season. In the first season of the contract the cap hit was equivalent to 1.13% of the salary cap.

Entry Level Contract ( )  (0 ratings)

Season Age* Clause Cap Hit AAV Perf. Bonus Sign. Bonus Salary Compensation Minors Salary Status
2021-22 21 $925,000 $925,000 - $92,500 $832,500 $925,000 $70,000 ELC
2022-23 22 $925,000 $925,000 - $92,500 $832,500 $925,000 $70,000 ELC
2023-24 23 $925,000 $925,000 - $92,500 $832,500 $925,000 $70,000 ELC
Total - $277,500 $2,497,500 $2,775,000 $210,000
Signed: Mar 22, 2021
Team: Edmonton Oilers
GM: Ken Holland
Exp. Status: RFA-arb

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
2014-15 USHS-Prep New Hampton School 36 3 4 7
2015-16 USHS-Prep New Hampton School 40 5 11 16
2016-17 USHS-Prep New Hampton School 30 8 20 28
2016-17 EJEPL 16U New Hampshire Avalanche 16U AAA 2 0 1 1
2017-18 USHS-Prep New Hampton School 38 11 23 34 23
2017-18 USHL Des Moines Buccaneers 12 0 2 2 -3 2
2017-18 USA-S17 Team Kelly 5 2 1 3
2018-19 USHL Des Moines Buccaneers 33 2 10 12 +5 8
2018-19 USHL Fargo Force 33 7 15 22 +2 20 2 -4
2019-20 NCAA Northeastern Univ. 34 2 3 5 -2 35
2020-21 NCAA Northeastern Univ. 20 5 3 8 -4 23
2020-21 AHL Bakersfield Condors 21 1 2 3 -2 10 6 3 3 +2 2
2021-22 AHL Bakersfield Condors 55 2 11 13 +10 45 4 +1
2022-23 AHL Bakersfield Condors 49 13 9 22 +5 40
2022-23 NHL Arizona Coyotes 9 0 3 3 -1 6 8 0.0 17:06
2022-23 AHL Tucson Roadrunners 10 2 5 7 +3 7 3 -2 2
2023-24 NHL Arizona Coyotes 65 5 16 21 +11 66 76 6.6 15:48
2023-24 WC USA 7 2 1 3 +1
2023-24 International Team USA 1 0 0 0 -1
2023-24 AHL Tucson Roadrunners 6 0 0 0 -2 11 2 -2
2024-25 NHL Utah Hockey Club 82 7 22 29 +4 89 150 4.7 17:41
2024-25 WC USA 10 1 3 4 +7 2
2024-25 International Team USA 1 0 0 0
2025-26 NHL Buffalo Sabres 9 0 0 0 -3 2 10 0.0 15:37
NHL Career 165 12 41 53 +11 163 244 4.9 16:48