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NHL
Michael Kesselring
Michael Kesselring
Buffalo Sabres, Defensemen
Age: 26y-1m-23d (Jan 13, 2000)
Exp: 2 Years
Country: US
College: Des Moines (USHL)
Drafted: Round 6 (#164 overall), 2018
Agent(s): Matt Keator (Win Hockey Agency)
2025-26 Cap Hit
$1,400,000
2025-26 Cash
$1,400,000
Career Earnings
$3,749,658
2024-2025 Extension (CURRENT)
Michael Kesselring signed a 2 year, $2,800,000 contract with the Utah Hockey Club, including $2,800,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $1,400,000. In 2025-26, Kesselring will earn a base salary of $1,400,000, while carrying a cap hit of $1,400,000.
Contract Terms:
2 yr(s) / $2,800,000
Average Salary:
$1,400,000
Signing Bonus:
N/A
Free Agent:
2026 / RFA
| Year | Age | Cap HitAnnual | Cap % League Cap | Cash Annual | Cash Cumulative | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 |
|
25 | $1,400,000 | 1.59% | $1,400,000 | $1,400,000 |
| 2025-26 |
|
26 | $1,400,000 | 1.47% | $1,400,000 | $2,800,000 |
| 2026-27 |
|
27 |
RFA |
| Year | Age | Base Salary | Cap Hit | Cap % League | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 |
|
25 | $1,400,000 | $1,400,000 | 1.59% |
| 2025-26 |
|
26 | $1,400,000 | $1,400,000 | 1.47% |
| 2026-27 |
|
27 |
RFA |
| Year | Age | Base Salary | Cash Total | Cash Cumulative | Cash Remaining | AYC Cumulative | AYC Remaining | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 |
|
25 | $1,400,000 | $1,400,000 | $1,400,000 | - | $1,400,000 | $1,400,000 |
| 2025-26 |
|
26 | $1,400,000 | $1,400,000 | $2,800,000 | - | $1,400,000 | $1,400,000 |
Source:
NHL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.
2021-2023 Rookie
Contract Terms:
3 yr(s) / $2,775,000
Average Salary:
$925,000
Signing Bonus:
$277,500
Free Agent:
2024 / RFA
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Seasons
2 Years
Career Earnings thru 2025
$3,749,658
Earnings w/ Different Teams
2 teams
Earnings Per Year
| Year | Age | Team(s) | Status | Cash Total | Cash Cumulative | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 23 |
 |
Reserve / minor-buried
|
$151,000 |
$151,000 |
|
| 2023 | 24 |
|
Reserve / minor-buried
|
$798,658 |
$949,658 |
|
| 2024 | 25 |
|
Active
|
$1,400,000 |
$2,349,658 |
|
| 2025 | 26 |
|
Active
|
$1,400,000 |
$3,749,658 |
|
| Total |
$3,749,658 |
$3,749,658 |
||||
| Total |
$3,749,658 |
Earnings Per Team
| Years | Team | Base | Signing | Incentives | Cash Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 |
|
$2,164,658 | $185,000 | - | $2,349,658 |
| 1 |
|
$1,400,000 | - | - | $1,400,000 |
| Year | Team(s) | Age | Base | Signing | Incentives | Cash Total | Cash Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 |
|
23 |
$58,500
|
$92,500 |
$151,000 |
$151,000 |
|
| 2023 |
|
24 |
$706,158
|
$92,500 |
$798,658 |
$949,658 |
|
| 2024 |
|
25 |
$1,400,000
|
$1,400,000 |
$2,349,658 |
||
| 2025 |
|
26 |
$1,400,000
|
$1,400,000 |
$3,749,658 |
||
| Total |
$3,564,658 |
$185,000 |
$3,749,658 |
$3,749,658 |
|||
| Total |
$3,564,658 |
$185,000 |
$3,749,658 |
Earnings Per Team
| Years | Team | Base | Signing | Incentives | Cash Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 |
|
$2,164,658 | $185,000 | - | $2,349,658 |
| 1 |
|
$1,400,000 | - | - | $1,400,000 |
Injuries
| Year | Dates | Games Missed | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 |
BUF |
Jan 06, 2026 - Jan 14, 2026 | 0 | Lower Body |
| 2025-26 |
BUF |
Nov 17, 2025 - Dec 17, 2025 | 0 | Lower Body |
| 2025-26 |
BUF |
Oct 07, 2025 - Oct 28, 2025 | 0 | Undisclosed |
-
Jun 26, 2025
Traded to Buffalo (BUF) from Utah (UTA) with Josh Doan for John-Jason Peterka
-
Jun 28, 2024
Signed a 2 year $2.8 million contract extension with Utah (UTA)
-
Jan 26, 2024
Fined $2,408 Cross-checking Maxwell Crozier (TBL)
-
Nov 08, 2023
Promoted from the Minors by Arizona (ARI)
-
Apr 14, 2023
Demoted to the Minors by Arizona (ARI)
-
Apr 13, 2023
Promoted from the Minors by Arizona (ARI)
-
Mar 27, 2023
Demoted to the Minors by Arizona (ARI)
-
Mar 21, 2023
Promoted from the Minors by Arizona (ARI)
-
Mar 19, 2023
Demoted to the Minors by Arizona (ARI)
-
Mar 18, 2023
Promoted from the Minors by Arizona (ARI)
-
Mar 17, 2023
Demoted to the Minors by Arizona (ARI)
-
Mar 14, 2023
Promoted from the Minors by Arizona (ARI)
-
Mar 04, 2023
Demoted to the Minors by Arizona (ARI)
-
Mar 03, 2023
Promoted from the Minors by Arizona (ARI)
-
Mar 02, 2023
Traded to Arizona (ARI) from Edmonton (EDM) with 2023 3rd round pick for Nick Bjugstad and Cam Dineen
-
Mar 22, 2021
Signed a 3 year $2.775 million contract with Edmonton (EDM)
-
Jun 24, 2018
Drafted by Edmonton (EDM): Round 6 (#164 overall)
Fines
| Date | Reason | Fine Amount | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 26, 2024 |
|
Cross-checking Maxwell Crozier (TBL) | $2,408 | |
| Fines: 1 | $2,408 |
| Year | Team | GP | G | MIN | A | PTS | +/- | SOG | S% | PPG | PPA | SHG | SHA | Blk | Hit | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | BUF | 28 | 0 | 385 | 1 | 0 | -4 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 20 | 43 | |
| 2024 | UTA | 82 | 7 | 1,450 | 22 | 0 | 4 | 150 | .047 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 67 | 87 | 89 |
| 2023 | ARI | 65 | 5 | 1,026 | 16 | 21 | 11 | 76 | .066 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59 | 99 | 66 |
| 2022 | ARI | 9 | 0 | 153 | 3 | 3 | -1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 12 | 6 |
