Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - New Buffalo Sabres defenseman Michael Kesselring spoke with the media on Thursday, less than 24 hours after being acquired from the Utah Mammoth as part of the package for winger JJ Peterka.
Kesselring has already been traded once in his career after the Edmonton Oilers drafted him in the 2018 NHL Draft as a six-round pick (164th overall). He was traded to the Arizona Coyotes back in March of 2023 in a deadline deal.
Kesselring became a fixture on the Utah defense last season, so, of course, he wasn’t expecting to be traded.
"It’s been crazy. I got the call right around midnight last night, it was a wave of emotions and then shock," admitted Kesselring during his introductory Zoom call on Thursday. "I didn’t get much sleep last night, but this morning it turned into a lot of excitement. I think there’s a good opportunity for me here, and I’m ready to prove that I can play in an elevated role for an extended time. It’s really exciting."
There’s a good chance Kesselring could end up being Owen Power’s partner on the right side of the ice. He admits he's been watching Power and Rasmus Dahlin from afar.
"It’s funny because they’re one of my favorite teams to watch because of Rasmus and Owen," Kesselring said. "Obviously they’re a little more skilled than me, but I’d like to think offensively there’s things I can learn from them."
Injuries forced Kesselring into a top-four spot on the defense for much of the year with Utah, and he took a lot from that.
"I’ve got to earn it still here, but I had a lot of experience this year up and down [the lineup], playing against top players or playing against third or fourth line guys, and learning how to manage the game and learning to manage all different types of players," Kesselring noted. "I’m a big guy that can move, and I’m good two ways. There are a lot of ways I can impact the game."
And it isn’t just him learning from Dahlin, as Kesselring thinks he can help the Sabres star captain with his game.
"I think I have the skill to help get them the puck, and my shot is one of my best attributes," he said. "So hopefully they can set me up for good looks that I hopefully can bury."
Last season, the Mammoth came to town in December and in the second period alone, Kesselring had a goal and an assist, as well as a fight with Beck Malenstyn to complete the "Gordie Howe Hat-trick". It’s not his favorite thing to do, but Kesselring will step up when needed.
"Honestly I’m not the biggest fan of fighting, but I’d like to think I’m a good teammate, a good locker room guy," he said. "When it has to happen, then it has to happen. I’m 6-foot-5, I’ve got to stand up for myself and my teammates, so it’s something I’m not afraid to do. And there’s a lot of value in that. You police the game, you help your team any way you can.
"It’s a big part of my game the last few years, and why I’ve become a better player. Defensively, I’ve slowly become harder to play against, and that’s one thing I want to take pride in this year. I have to thank the people at USA Hockey and the World Championship, I think those games did a lot for me to play in those high pressure games in a defensive role. It was really good experience for me."
Winning the gold medal with Team USA at the World Championship gave Kesselring the chance to become friends with Sabres forward Tage Thompson. He says they had a great time hanging out together, and, of course, talk about that game.
"The 'Gordie Howe Hat-trick' is probably one of the highlights of my career," Kesselring said. "I was joking with Tage at Worlds that’s my favorite arena to play in. I scored my first NHL goal there too, so there’s a lot of good memories in that arena. So maybe it was meant to be.
"At Worlds, Tage was in our group a lot. He knows [Clayton] Keller, who I’m pretty close with in Utah, and I played against his brother a little bit growing up. so I knew the name for a long time. He’s a great guy, awesome player.
Kesselring adds he had already talked to Thompson a little bit Thursday, and both players were really excited about playing with one another in Buffalo.
Both Kesselring and Thompson have bombs for shots, but which one has the hardest?
"I’ve got to give it to Tage right now," Kesselring admitted. "But I was joking with him that, 'You couldn’t have let me have the record a little bit longer?' I had it for like a day and then Tage broke it."
Kesselring played two collegiate seasons of hockey at Northeastern University, one of those with Sabres goalie Devon Levi. It was Levi who surrendered the Sabres' new defenseman his first NHL goal.
"I played with 'Dev' at Northeastern, and he was hurt most of that year. He didn’t play a lot, if at all for us, but he’s a great kid, extremely hard worker." Kesselring said.
"I’m excited to talk to him, but he’s an unbelievable goalie. It’ll be cool to be reunited with him. I got my first NHL goal on him, so I can give him a little crap about it."
Kesselring admits he probably signed in the NHL too early out of college. He feels he was underdeveloped, and could’ve used one more year with Northeastern.
One talking point Kesselring got emotional talking about Thursday was what it meant to play that first year in Utah after the Coyotes were relocated following the 2023-24 season.
He was also emotional about leaving some of his very good friends behind, but is glad with his next opportunity in Buffalo. He believes the Sabres are an up-and-coming team, and he’s also much closer to home in New Hampshire.