Oilers Tossed Kesselring Aside, While Utah Gives Him Big Role

EDMONTON -- There is no time like the present.

Especially when the present offers a glorious moment. For former Edmonton Oilers prospect Michael Kesselring, the opportunity has come knocking.

And he's more than ready to swing the door open and embrace whatever comes next.

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Kesselring has already been a pleasant surprise for the Utah Hockey Club. He was traded to the team before they relocated in exchange for Cam Dineen and Nick Bjugstad.

Before that, he hadn't dressed for an NHL game. During that 2022-23 season, he played 49 games for the Bakersfield Condors, amassing 22 points, of which 13 were goals.

After the trade, he played 10 games for the Tuscon Roadrunners and nine with the Arizona Coyotes. He collected 10 points over those 19 games and averaged 17:06 in his NHL games.

Kesselring has had a great start to the season, with four points in seven games and 19:47 of ice time per game.

Now, the young blueliner will have a bigger chance to prove his mettle, with big-minute defenseman Sean Durzi on the shelf for at least the next four months. This prompted a call-up for the towering Maveric Lamoureaux.

Ian Cole will be the first veteran to play with Lamoureaux for tonight's game against the Colorado Avalanche. But with the top right-handed defender on ice for the foreseeable future, Kesselring has the chance of a lifetime.

It's a chance to play top-pairing minutes against a playoff team. A chance to show what he is capable of.

A chance to take the bull by the horns and not let go.

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