NH's Kesselring expecting bigger role, vying for trust with Buffalo Sabres

MICHAEL KESSELRING is out to gain trust.The 6-foot-5, 215-pound defenseman from New Hampton wants to play in the last minute of games for the Buffalo Sabres when theyre protecting a one-goal lead.The Sabres acquired Kesselring, 25, and his roommate, forward Josh Doan, in exchange for 23-year-old wing JJ Peterka in a June 26 trade with the Utah Mammoth.Peterka, who logged 68 points (27 goals, 41 assists) in 77 games last season, was projected to be one of the teams up-and-coming offensive threats, according to Rachel Lenzi of The Buffalo News.If I can get to a point where I can get trusted like that, thats where my game could really take off and I could really take a big step of being a very good all-around d-man, Kesselring said.

Thats kind of the goal at the start when I first get there ...

and once I have their trust, then kind of let the offensive side take over.

That comes to me a little more naturally to me the offensive side.Kesselring, who considers himself a strong skater with a good (right) shot, is excited to have a much bigger role with Buffalo next season than he would have with the Mammoth.The New Hampton School and Northeastern University product said he hopes to play on the power play, penalty kill, in four-on-four and maybe some three-on-three situations.With Utah last year, Kesselring played special teams when teammates were injured.I think, the plan is just for me to be a bigger part of the team even when were fully healthy and that was kind of the exciting part for me, Kesselring said.

They (the Sabres) see a lot of potential in me and see me as a solution for their right side for a long time, I think, and its really exciting that they see me like that.

I think in Utah they saw me similarly, but I think Im just going to get the opportunity to be a bigger impact player a little bit quicker in Buffalo, which is obviously exciting.Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams said in a news release that both Kesselring and Doan fit the teams offseason priorities to become more competitive and tougher to play against.Kesselring has been in seven fights over the past two seasons.Michael fits the mold of the right-handed defenseman we have been looking for, and we are thrilled he brings both size and compete, Adams said.

We believe he will help add balance to our blue line while elevating the rest of the D corps.

Josh is a player that has shown the ability to win at multiple levels and brings great leadership pedigree to our organization.Buffalo, which went 36-39-7 last year and has not made the postseason since 2011, is the latest stop in Kesselrings well-traveled past few years.Kesselrings first two full NHL campaigns were Utahs inaugural season last year and the Arizona Coyotes final season in 2023-24 before the franchise moved to Utah.Kesselring said he was so focused on staying in the NHL during that last season in Arizona that he didnt pay much attention to the moving rumors.That will always be the first team I played on, Kesselring said.

That group of guys and wearing that jersey for the first time, that will always be special for me.

And I love Arizona.

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I always tell my parents Im going to live there one day.In Utah last year, Kesselring made franchise history and had his best statistical NHL season.The Mammoth, then the Utah Hockey Club, finished 38-31-13 and did not qualify for the playoffs.Kesselring assisted on Utahs first-ever goal, scored by Dylan Guenther, and tallied both the teams first goal by a defenseman and first Gordie Howe hat trick (a goal, assist and fight in one game).Playing in all 82 regular-season games, Kesselring recorded 29 points (seven goals, 22 assists), a plus-4 plus-minus rating and averaging 17 minutes, 41 seconds of ice time per game.He even got recognized around Salt Lake City a few times.The city ...

it felt like really got behind us and our team, Kesselring said.

When we were making the playoff push, some of the games were crazy rowdy and it was a playoff atmosphere.

It was super cool to be part of that first season, for sure.After Utahs season ended, Kesselring helped Team USA win its first gold medal at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship in 92 years.

The Americans defeated Switzerland 1-0 in overtime in the gold-medal game in May.Playing in Buffalo is emotional for Kesselring.He is happy that his dad, Casey, and mom, Shawndra, will get to see him play more and that his mom wont have to stay up late as often to watch his games on TV.And when he wants to visit home, Kesselring now can just pack up his car and hit the road.Its an exciting time for me and my family, so were pumped to get it going and play in Boston a few more times this year, Kesselring said.

Its all [email protected].

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