Earlier this month, the Buffalo Sabres traded Michael Kesselring and the 27th overall pick of this year’s draft to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for the 20th overall pick of this year’s draft. Seeing Kesselring get moved was not surprising, as he struggled with the Sabres last season and had been the subject of trade rumors.
Now, Kesselring has landed his new contract with the Sharks, and he has gotten himself a nice payday.
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According to PuckPedia, Kesselring has signed a three-year, $13.5 million ($4.5 million cap hit) deal with the Sharks.
When noting that Kesselring had a tough season for the Sabres, this is a good contract for him to land. The right-shot defenseman has gotten a significant raise from his previous $1.4 million cap hit and has landed himself some security by signing for three years.
Kesselring should now be a key part of the Sharks’ blueline as they look to continue to trend in the right direction. With the Sharks’ defensive depth not being strong, Kesselring should have a real shot of playing top-four minutes next season.
Kesselring was acquired by the Sabres this past off-season in the deal that sent JJ Peterka to the Utah Mammoth. In 34 games this past season with Buffalo, Kesselring had zero goals and two assists. This was after he set career highs with seven goals, 22 assists, and 29 points in 82 games.
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Overall, the fit between the Sabres and Kesselring was just never there. The same can be said between Peterka and Utah, though, as the Mammoth traded the former Sabres winger to the Boston Bruins on Friday.
