Michael Kesselring's time with the Utah Mammoth has come to an end. The Buffalo Sabres have acquired the defenseman and forward Josh Doan from the Utah Mammoth in exchange for JJ Peterka.
It's a decision that, for some fans, made them scratch their heads. Why? Kesselring just finished his second season in the league. He's only 25 and played all 82 games for the Mammoth, and you saw some progress from this young talent.
Kesselring finished the season with 29 points and was a difference-maker every time he was on the ice, especially on 5-on-5. Kesselring became a fan favorite in Utah due to his exceptional play on the ice. Now, the Sabres got themselves a 6-foot-5 defenseman who can anchor their franchise with his defense.
As for the Mammoth, they didn't regress. Peterka is an outstanding player with the potential to continue improving. The 23-year-old finished the season with 68 points (27 goals, 41 assists). Peterka will join a Mammoth team that had three players, all in their 20s, who finished the season recording more than 60 points.
Clayton Keller, 26, had 90 points (30 goals, 60 assists). Logan Cooley, 21, posted 65 points (25 goals, 40 assists). Dylan Guenther added 60 points (27 goals, 33 assists).
A starting lineup with those four players should be good enough on paper to make the playoffs for the 2025-26 season if everyone stays healthy. Utah still needs more work to do, and it will be interesting to see who they will draft.
Mammoth General Manager Bill Armstrong explained why he made the trade to acquire Peterka.
"You have to try and better your team and give your team a chance to get to that next level," Armstrong said. "We needed some scoring and felt like that could be answered with J.J."
The Mammoth needs some scoring, but they still need to improve in their defense. Controlling the game, especially in the second and third periods, will be crucial for the next season.
There are several defenseman-free agents that the Mammath can go after to add to their roster. Ryan Lindgren, Ivan Provorov, Dmitry Orlov, Alex Martinez, T.J. Brodie. The Mammoth can add at least one young defenseman and one veteran defenseman, or add two young defensemen and one veteran.
Armstrong wants Utah to win and get better as a team. The trade seems more of an asset than a liability, but let's see how it all comes together when the new season approaches.