Former Edmonton Oiler makes history with new team

Utah HC is the NHL's newest franchise, and they've been off to a fairly respectable start to the 2024-25 season.

Currently sitting 24th in the NHL, Utah HC posts an 11-11-4 record, and they seem to be finally gaining some traction after their big 5-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres yesterday.

With that being said, the biggest surprise of Utah's inaugural season had been ex-Oilers prospect Michael Kesselring.

Utah HC emerged victorious over the Buffalo Sabres 5-2. A key factor for the win was defenseman Michael Kesselring.

Kesselring scored the first goal for Utah and assisted on the eventual game-winner netted by Nick Schmaltz.

And get this - he got into a pretty spirited tilt as well.

With a goal, an assist, and a fight, Michael Kesselring notched the first ever Gordie Howe hat-trick in club history.

On March 2nd, 2023, Ken Holland did the best he could to bolster the Edmonton Oilers for the post-season, trading Micheal Kesselring to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Nick Bjugstad.

They sent Kesselring and a third-round pick to the Coyotes for Bjugstad, who would rejoin the Coyotes as a free agent that summer. Less than two years later, Kesselring has established himself as an integral part of the Utah Hockey Club roster.

Michael Kesselring's skill set is exactly what the Edmonton Oilers are looking for right now -- leading to some regretful feelings.

According to The Hockey News, The 6-foot-4, 215 lbs defender was a sixth-round pick from the 2018 draft for the Oilers. He has 14 points in 26 games, averaging 19:15 of ice time per night.

Kesselring is a big shut-down defenceman with a right hand shot, and Oilers fans can only think "what if" had former GM Ken Holland kept him around