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Photo of NHL player Michael Kesselring

Buffalo Sabres Logo Michael Kesselring

Position Right Defense Current Team Buffalo Sabres
Shoots Right Current Contract 2 years ($1.4M CapHit)
Height 6'5" Expires 2025-26
Weight (lbs) 215 Expiry Age (Jun 30) 26
Age (DOB) 26 (Jan 13, 2000) Expiry Status RFA-arb
Drafted 2018, Round 6, Overall 164 (EDM)
Date Team Transaction
Jan 14, 2026 Buffalo Sabres Activated from IR
Jan 6, 2026 Buffalo Sabres Placed on IR
Dec 18, 2025 Buffalo Sabres Activated from IR
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


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



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



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

About Player Cards

Player cards present an infographic of a players performance using a series of Player Archetypes developed for Puckalytics.com and TheStanleyCap.com. The boxes in the rink image show the archetype ratings for the season specified in the card while the graphs to the right show the five-year trends for those archetypes.

Except for Faceoffs, the values shown are the players z-score (standard deviation from the mean) for the specific metric used to calculate the archetype values. When calculating z-scores forwards were compared to forwards and defensemen were compared to defensemen. Positive values indicate the player is above average and shaded in blue, while negative values indicate the player is below average and shaded in punk. The five year trend charts show a range of -4.0 to 4.0.

The value shown for Faceoffs is the faceoff winning percentage rather than their z-score with winning percentages below 50 in pink shades and above 50 in blue shades.

All archetypes are 5v5 except 5v4 TOI, 4v5 TOI, Skating (even strength) and Faceoffs (all situations). Archetypes use regular season data only.

Archetypes Summary
  • Sniper - Measures the to score above the expected goal rate.
  • Rebound - Measures the percent of a players shot attempts that come from rebounds (forwards only).
  • 5v4 TOI - Powerplay ice time, calculated as the percentage of his teams 5v4 ice time that the player was on the ice for.
  • Shooter - Measures whether a players points come from shots (goals or assists on rebounds from his shots).
  • Producer - Measures a players ability to produce goals and assists, adjusted for quality of teammates.
  • Playmaker - Measures whether a players points come from passes.
  • Drive - Measures a players ability to drive puck possession and generate shot attempts for his team.
  • Rush - Measures the percent of a players shot attempts that come from rush plays
  • Possession - An indicator of a players ability to improve his teams puck possession game.
  • Faceoffs - Faceoff Winning Percentage (min. 75 faceoffs taken).
  • 5v5 TOI - The percentage of his teams 5v5 TOI that the player was on the ice for.
  • Suppress - Measures a players ability to suppress opponent puck possession and shot attempts against.
  • Skating - An indicator of a players skating ability, or speed bursts above 20mph per mile skated.
  • Defend - An indicator of a players ability to suppress shot quality against.
  • 4v5 TOI - Penalty Kill ice time, calculated as the percentage of his teams 4v5 ice time that the player was on the ice for.
Data Sources
Terms of Use

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

Read Introducing Player Archetypes on HockeyAnalysis.com for more details on archetype calculations.

Core Archetypes

Season Team(s) GP TOI Producer Playmaker Shooter Sniper Rebound Rush Skating Defend
2022-23 ARI 9 2.46 6.05 -0.95 -2.75 - -0.89 0.52 -1.86
2023-24 ARI 65 0.41 0.06 0.54 0.69 - -0.30 1.75 -0.06
2024-25 UTA 82 1.20 1.21 0.29 -0.18 - 0.11 2.33 1.88
2025-26 BUF 34 -1.50 -1.30 -0.95 -1.72 - -0.70 -0.11 0.42

Situational and Secondary Archetypes

Season Team(s) GP TOI 5v5 TOI 5v4 TOI 4v5 TOI Possession Drive Suppress Faceoffs
2022-23 ARI 9 -0.53 -1.39 -0.42 0.35 0.47 0.03 -
2023-24 ARI 65 -0.60 -1.42 -1.85 1.34 1.05 -0.84 -
2024-25 UTA 82 -0.24 -0.65 -1.56 0.46 0.57 -0.13 -
2025-26 BUF 34 -2.09 -1.52 -1.02 0.64 0.96 0.05 -

About Archetypes

Player archetypes are a look at a players strengths and weaknesses in his game when compared to other players around the leeague. Except for Faceoffs, the values shown are the players z-score (standard deviation from the mean) for the specific metric used to calculate the archetype values. When calculating z-scores forwards were compared to forwards and defensemen were compared to defensemen. Positive values indicate the player is above average and shaded in blue, while negative values indicate the player is below average and shaded in punk. The five year trend charts show a range of -4.0 to 4.0.

The value shown for Faceoffs is the faceoff winning percentage rather than their z-score with winning percentages below 50 in pink shades and above 50 in blue shades.

All archetypes are 5v5 except 5v4 TOI, 4v5 TOI and Faceoffs (all situations). Archetypes use regular season data only.

Archetypes Summary
  • Producer - Measures a players ability to produce goals and assists, adjusted for quality of teammates.
  • Playmaker - Measures whether a players points come from passes.
  • Shooter - Measures whether a players points come from shots (goals or assists on rebounds from his shots).
  • Sniper - Measures the to score above the expected goal rate.
  • Rebound - Measures the percent of a players shot attempts that come from rebounds (forwards only).
  • Rush - Measures the percent of a players shot attempts that come from rush plays
  • Skating - An indicator of a players skating ability, or speed bursts above 20mph per mile skated.
  • Defend - An indicator of a players ability to suppress shot quality against.
  • 5v5 TOI - The percentage of his teams 5v5 TOI that the player was on the ice for.
  • 5v4 TOI - Powerplay ice time, calculated as the percentage of his teams 5v4 ice time that the player was on the ice for.
  • 4v5 TOI - Penalty Kill ice time, calculated as the percentage of his teams 4v5 ice time that the player was on the ice for.
  • Possession - An indicator of a players ability to improve his teams puck possession game.
  • Drive - Measures a players ability to drive puck possession and generate shot attempts for his team.
  • Suppress - Measures a players ability to suppress opponent puck possession and shot attempts against.
  • Faceoffs - Faceoff Winning Percentage (min. 75 faceoffs taken).

Read Introducing Player Archetypes on HockeyAnalysis.com for more details on archetype calculations.

Data Sources

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 6.95 -6.95 0.00 0.00
2023-24 ARI 65 973:37 0.31 0.80 1.11 0.21 0.09 6.85 4.75 2.10 0.79 0.00
2024-25 UTA 82 1298:11 0.23 0.83 1.06 0.26 -0.03 3.79 4.26 -0.47 0.51 1.03
2025-26 BUF 34 419:27 0.00 0.29 0.29 0.32 -0.32 0.00 4.93 -4.93 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 2.42 45.45 47.16 -0.02 -0.28 2.42
2023-24 ARI 65 973:37 43.08 3.02 2.41 41.17 2.40 2.57 55.68 48.42 0.04 0.03 0.20
2024-25 UTA 82 1298:11 45.34 2.13 2.69 38.13 1.71 2.27 55.42 54.24 -0.02 -0.07 0.57
2025-26 BUF 34 419:27 43.34 2.29 2.57 42.77 2.29 2.46 50.00 51.10 -0.10 -0.39 2.65

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%
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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 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 34 0 2 2 50 46 0.0 13:24 1 0.0 4:25
NHL Career 190 12 43 55 +14 211 280 4.3 16:15 1 - 4:25