Michael Kesselring, a defenseman for the Utah Hockey Club, shares his feelings about playing against his former team, the Edmonton Oilers. Kesselring spent three years in the Oilers' organization before being traded to the Arizona Coyotes and ultimately landing with Utah.
Some games carry a bit more weight.The Utah Hockey Club defenseman spent three years in the Oilers’ organization after the team selected him in the sixth round of the 2018 NHL Draft. Kesselring was subsequently traded — with a third-round pick — to the Arizona Coyotes in March 2023 for Nick Bjugstad and Cam Dineen as Edmonton looked to make a strong push in the playoffs. “I like to say I don’t take it personally, but I do a little bit.
It means a little bit more to me to play them,” Kesselring said. “Nothing against them — I had a great experience there.” Kesselring never skated in an NHL game with the Oilers; he was on the AHL affiliate Bakersfield Condors for the better part of three seasons before getting dealt to what is now Utah Hockey Club. It was there that Kesselring learned what would be expected of him as an NHL defenseman and he adjusted his game accordingly. That time in Bakersfield shaped him into the puck-moving, physical and smooth-skating blueliner Utah fans have gotten to watch this year. (Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Hockey Club goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) speaks with Utah Hockey Club defenseman Ian Cole (28) and Utah Hockey Club defenseman Michael Kesselring (7) after a play during the second period of the NHL game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. “I think the biggest thing that I noticed early was just how hard he worked at the gym. He was top three as far as how hard he worked in practice and in the gym,” said Colin Chaulk who is head coach of the Condors. “Being a right-shot d-man with his stature and size – you think of him already, how do we develop this player into an NHL player?” Kesselring — who stands at 6-foot-5, 215 pounds — received a clear message from Chaulk: get your shot through. The coach wanted Kesselring to utilize his hard, direct release and offensive instincts without sacrificing his defensive detail
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