Former Oilers Defenceman Breaks NHL Record for Hardest Shot

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Liam McCormick
October 26, 2024 (4:28 PM)

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A former Edmonton Oilers prospect that's seeming to grow into a star player on the Utah Hockey Club has officially broke the record for the hardest shot recorded in the NHL.

According to NHL Edge Data, Michael Kesselring recorded the hardest slap shot in an NHL game since they began tracking the data. Kesselring's shot registered at an incredible 103.77 miles per hour.

The NHL's hardest slap shot contest at the All-Star Game has always been one of the fan favourite contests, and to this day, Zdeno Chara remains at the top for the hardest shot ever recorded at 108.8 miles per hour in 2012. Kesselring's shot of 103.77 would be the fourth hardest shot recorded including all star games, being just faster than Elias Pettersson's All-Star blast in 2023. Interestingly, Al Iafrate still ranks third at 105.2 miles per hour, the only player from before 2000.

The Edmonton Oilers traded Michael Kesselring in March of last season to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for centreman Nick Bjugstad. Kesselring was a late round draft pick of the Oilers and potentially a long shot to make the team, but quickly in Arizona and Utah he's developed into a reliable defender.

Kesselring is now playing top pair minutes with Mikhail Sergachev and is looking like he may be developing into a star level talent. He's a 6'4, 215 pound right shot defenceman that can play a punishing physical game, but is also a great skater and puck mover. In 8 games so far this year, Kesselring's got 2 goals and 4 points.

After losing Philip Broberg, Vincent Desharnais, and Cody Ceci all in one offseason, it sure would have been nice for the Oilers to have a young defenceman like Kesselring on hand to step up into a bigger role. Trading prospects at the deadline always has a risk to go poorly, but the Oilers only got 19 games out of Bjugstad, and it looks like Utah got a stud defender.