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Michael Kesselring

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Michael Kesselring
Kesselring in 2025
Born (2000-01-13) January 13, 2000 (age 26)
Florence, South Carolina, U.S.
Height 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight 215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams		 San Jose Sharks
Arizona Coyotes
Utah Hockey Club
Buffalo Sabres
National team  United States
NHL draft 164th overall, 2018
Edmonton Oilers
Playing career 2021–present

Michael Alan Kesselring (born January 13, 2000) is an American professional ice hockey player who is a defenseman for the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected 164th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2018 NHL entry draft and made his NHL debut in the 2022–23 season.

Playing career

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Kesselring with the Utah Hockey Club in 2025

Kesselring played high school hockey for the New Hampton School within the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council before spending the conclusion of the 2017–18 season with the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League (USHL). In his first year of eligibility, with standout physical attributes and strong hockey sense, Kesselring was selected by the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the sixth round, 164th overall, of the 2018 NHL entry draft.[1]

In his only full season in the USHL in 2018–19, Kesselring split the season between the Buccaneers and the Fargo Force before committing to a collegiate career with Northeastern University of the Hockey East.

During his sophomore season in the NCAA, Kesselring opted to conclude his collegiate career and turn professional for the remainder of the 2020–21 season, signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Edmonton Oilers on March 22, 2021.[2] Appearing with their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, on an amateur tryout basis, Kesselring collected three points through 21 regular season games and making six post-season appearances. In his first full professional season in 2021–22, Kesselring established himself on the Condors blueline, registering 2 goals and 13 points through 55 regular season games.[3]

Continuing with the Condors in his third season in the AHL in 2022–23 season, Kesselring showed offensive development by scoring 13 goals and 22 points through only 49 games with Bakersfield. Approaching the NHL trade deadline, Kesselring was traded by the Oilers along with a 2023 third-round pick to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Nick Bjugstad and Cam Dineen on March 2, 2023.[4] He was immediately recalled by the Coyotes and made his NHL debut the following day in a 6–1 defeat to the Carolina Hurricanes at Mullett Arena.[5][6] He was reassigned the following day to the Coyotes AHL affiliate, the Tucson Roadrunners, on March 4, 2023.[7] He was recalled again on March 14, and would play eight more games that season in the NHL, recording his first point, an assist, on March 26, and recording two assists for his first multi-point game on April 13.

Kesselring started the 2023–24 season with the Roadrunners, and was recalled again by the Coyotes on November 16, 2023.[citation needed] He scored his first NHL goal on December 11, in a 5–2 loss against the Buffalo Sabres.[8] He finished the season with 21 points (5 goals, 16 assists) in 65 games.[9]

Before the 2024–25 season, the Arizona Coyotes' hockey operations were sold and transferred to the newly established Utah Hockey Club, including Kesselring's contract.[10] On December 7, 2024, in Kesselring's 100th career NHL game, he recorded the first Gordie Howe hat trick in Utah franchise history, registering a goal, an assist, and a fight, in a 5–2 win against the Buffalo Sabres.[11] In his first season spent entirely in the NHL, Kesselring played in all 82 games and recorded 29 points (7 goals, 22 assists), finishing second in points among defensemen on the team. He also recorded 89 penalty minutes, ranking first on the team and 15th in the NHL.[12][13]

On June 26, 2025, Kesselring was traded by the newly renamed Utah Mammoth to the Buffalo Sabres, along with Josh Doan, in exchange for JJ Peterka.[14] During the 2025–26 season, Kesselring was hampered by a series of lower-body injuries, recording just two assists in 34 regular season games and one playoff game.[15]

On June 17, 2026, Kesselring was traded by the Sabres to the San Jose Sharks, along with the 27th overall pick in the 2026 NHL entry draft, in exchange for the 20th overall pick in the 2026 draft.[16] He signed a three-year, $13.5M contract with the Sharks on June 28.[17] Kesselring made his Sharks debut in the season opener on October 1 in a 5–4 overtime win against the Florida Panthers, and recorded his first point as a Shark with an assist on October 15, in a 3–2 shootout win against the Nashville Predators.[18] Kesselring played his 200th career NHL game on October 21, in a 4–3 overtime win against the Montreal Canadiens.[citation needed]

Personal life

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Kesselring was born in Florence, South Carolina,[19] the son of Casey and Shawndra Kesselring. His father, Casey, played professional hockey at the ECHL level and has served as a minor, high school and junior head coach since 2003. Michael was coached by his father during his high school tenure with New Hampton School.[20] His younger brother, Mason, played junior hockey with the Langley Rivermen and Coquitlam Express in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) and for Curry College in NCAA Division III.[21]

Kesselring is the cousin of "Love Island USA" season 8 finalist Kayda Bosse who finished in fourth place with her partner Zach Gergiou.[22]

International play

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Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing the United States
World Championships
Gold medal – first place2025 Sweden/Denmark

Kesselring represented the United States at the 2025 World Championship, where he recorded one goal and three assists in ten games and helped Team USA win their first gold medal since 1933.[23]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2014–15 New Hampton School USHS 36347— —————
2015–16 New Hampton School USHS 4051116— —————
2016–17 New Hampton School USHS 3082028— —————
2017–18 New Hampton School USHS 3811233423 —————
2017–18 Des Moines Buccaneers USHL 120222 —————
2018–19 Des Moines Buccaneers USHL 33210128 —————
2018–19 Fargo Force USHL 337152220 20000
2019–20 Northeastern University HE 3423535 —————
2020–21 Northeastern University HE 2053823 —————
2020–21 Bakersfield Condors AHL 2112310 60332
2021–22 Bakersfield Condors AHL 552111345 40000
2022–23 Bakersfield Condors AHL 491392240 —————
2022–23 Arizona Coyotes NHL 90336 —————
2022–23 Tucson Roadrunners AHL 102577 30002
2023–24 Tucson Roadrunners AHL 600011 20000
2023–24 Arizona Coyotes NHL 655162166 —————
2024–25 Utah Hockey Club NHL 827222989 —————
2025–26 Buffalo Sabres NHL 3402250 10000
NHL totals 190124355211 10000

International

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Year Team Event Result GPGAPtsPIM
2024 United States WC 5th 72130
2025 United States WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 101342
Senior totals 173472

References

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  1. ↑ "Dev Camp: Kesselring was at his lake house when drafted by Oilers". Edmonton Oilers. June 26, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Oilers sign Michael Kesselring to entry-level contract". Edmonton Oilers. March 22, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  3. ↑ "There's one huge advantage for Oilers big d-man prospect Michael Kesselring". Edmonton Journal. August 24, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Coyotes get pick, Kesselring from Oilers for Bjugstad, Dineen". Arizona Coyotes. March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Coyotes trade deadline wrap". Arizona Coyotes. March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Aho, Ghostisbehere lead Hurricanes to 6-1 win over Coyotes". USA Today. March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Coyotes assign Kelemen, Kesselring and Kolyachonok to Tucson". Tucson Roadrunners. March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  8. ↑ Engel, Heather (December 11, 2023). "Okposo, Robinson each has 3 points in Sabres win against Coyotes". NHL.com. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Michael Kesselring Stats". NHL.com. Retrieved October 18, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Board Approves Establishment of New Franchise in Utah, Future Reactivation of Arizona Franchise". NHL.com. April 18, 2024. Retrieved October 19, 2026.
  11. ↑ Lazary, Spencer (December 7, 2024). "Kesselring Records First Gordie Howe Hat Trick in Franchise History". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Utah Mammoth Club Stats - 2024-25". NHL.com. Retrieved October 18, 2026.
  13. ↑ "2024 NHL Penalty Minutes Leaders & Stats - Penalties Stats". foxsports.com. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Sabres acquire Kesselring, Doan from Mammoth". Buffalo Sabres. June 25, 2025. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  15. ↑ Hoppe, Bill (June 18, 2026). "Following injury-plagued year, Sabres trade Michael Kesselring to Sharks". buffalohockeybeat.com. Retrieved October 18, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Kesselring traded to Sharks by Sabres". NHL.com. June 17, 2026. Retrieved June 17, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Sharks sign Michael Kesselring to a three-year contract". NHL.com. San Jose Sharks. June 28, 2026. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
  18. ↑ Vannozzi, Russell (October 15, 2026). "Nedeljkovic makes 32 saves, helps Sharks recover for shootout win against Predators". NHL.com. Retrieved October 22, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Kesselring Son". Florence Morning News. January 30, 2000. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com. Free access icon
  20. ↑ "Casey Kesselring team staff profile". eliteprospects.com. March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Mason Kesselring player profile". eliteprospects.com. March 3, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  22. ↑ Peng, Sheng (July 22, 2026). "SJHN Daily: Kesselring's Cousin on "Love Island", Nedeljkovic Interview, Celebrini & Smith Practicing Together in Vancouver". San Jose Hockey Now. Retrieved September 19, 2026.
  23. ↑ Zaccardi, Nick (May 25, 2025). "U.S. men's hockey team wins first standalone world championship since 1933". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
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