OILERS HOPE KESSELRING IS A SIXTH-ROUND STEAL
Potential shutdown defender was available with 164th pick overall in 2018 entry draft
Michael Kesselring could be a diamond in the rough for the Edmonton Oilers.
The six-foot-five, 209-pound defenceman from New Hampton, N.H., surprisingly was still available to Edmonton in the sixth round of the 2018 NHL entry draft and subsequently taken by the club 164th overall. He could turn out to be a steal.
“To be completely honest, I thought I was going to go a lot earlier in the draft, so I was starting to get a little bit nervous wondering what was going on,” Kesselring said. “I went to the combine and did pretty well; I had a lot of good interviews.
“I knew the Oilers were definitely very interested and I think it was a big sigh of relief when I was selected. My dad grew up just outside of Toronto and he watched (Wayne) Gretzky growing up, so he couldn’t have been happier to see me go to a Canadian team.”
A big-bodied, right-shot defenceman, the Oilers are hoping Kesselring, 20, develops into a premier shutdown blue-liner. He’s coming off a strong freshman season at Northeastern University after two seasons in junior in the USHL.
“Our school is really competitive, we were ranked one of the top 15 teams in the country pretty much all year,” Kesselring said. “Fortunately, I walked into a really good situation and played pretty much in the top-four pairings pretty much all year. We had a few injuries throughout the year, but this year was big for me, it really grew my defensive side of the game.”
Kesselring had two goals and five points in 34 games with Northeastern. He had seven goals and 22 points in 33 games with Fargo, N.D., the previous season.
“Coming out of Fargo, I was kind of the top offensive guy on our team and then at Northeastern being a freshman, we had talented older guys, so I had to learn to play a shutdown role,” Kesselring said. “That went really well and I really grew a lot defensively. I still created a lot of chances offensively, but I became a really well-rounded, two-way defenceman this year.”
The NCAA season was cut short due to the COVID-19 outbreak and Kesselring returned to New Hampshire, where he’s been working out and preparing for this season. Kesselring has been to a pair of Oilers summer orientation camps and is considered an excellent skater for his size.
“That’s definitely the thing that I’ve worked on most throughout the years and that’s definitely the thing that’s gotten me to higher and higher levels,” Kesselring said. “If you can move as a big guy and have that longer reach, that’s such a big advantage defending. That’s something that I can continue to work on and, hopefully, get a little bit smoother out there.
“But the speed is definitely getting better, which is exciting, because if I can get half a step on a guy, then I should be able to get the puck off my stick with my reach.”
Having been sent home from school early due to the outbreak, Kesselring was fortunate to have access to an arena where he was able to keep skating. The outbreak in New Hampshire has not been as severe as other parts of the United States.
There is still some uncertainty when NCAA sports, considering the continuing pandemic in the U.S. Regardless, Kesselring has received positive feedback from the Oilers regarding his development.
“(Former Oilers executive) Scott Howson came out probably about three or four times,” Kesselring said. “I know he’s gone now and not with the team anymore, but he’s really helped me throughout the last couple of years, staying in touch with me and being that connection to Edmonton.
“I talked to (assistant general manager) Keith Gretzky a few weeks ago, too, just about my workout plan and where I’m skating, he was just checking in and things like that. I know Scott Howson, before he left, was telling me how much my game has improved in the last few years and where he thinks my game can go. It’s been good having him come watch the last couple of years and getting feedback and trying to grow from that advice.”
Kesselring adjusted well from junior to NCAA hockey where opponents can be four or five years older. He hopes to continue his progression through to the professional level.
Kesselring is committed to Northeastern for at least another year, but his career beyond that will depend on how well the Oilers believe he’s developed.
“I’m really hoping that, personally, after next year we’re having a conversation with the organization about the possibility of having me going pro,” Kesselring said. “Then definitely after my junior (third) year, I hope I’d be ready to make the jump to the AHL, at least. Hopefully with the way I progress, I might be able to shock a few people and get there quicker than people think.
“I’m really excited for this upcoming season and, hopefully, everything starts on time because I think I can make a big jump in college this year.”