The New York Islanders added Matthew Kessel on a one-year contract, bringing in the 26-year-old defenseman after his most recent NHL work with the St. Louis Blues.
Kessel spent last season in St. Louis, where he put up three points - one goal and two assists - across 29 games. Over the course of his NHL career, he has appeared in 99 games, all with the Blues from 2023-26, and has produced 13 points, including three goals and 10 assists.
A right-hand shot from Scottsdale, AZ, Kessel entered the league as a fifth-round pick of St. Louis, going 150th overall in the 2020 NHL Draft.
He also logged plenty of time in the AHL with the Springfield Thunderbirds, the Blues’ affiliate, skating in parts of four seasons from 2022-25. In 151 AHL games, he recorded 61 points with 13 goals and 48 assists, and he added one goal and one assist in 20 Calder Cup playoff games.
Before turning pro, Kessel spent three seasons at the University of Massachusetts from 2019-22. He was part of the school’s 2021 NCAA championship team and served as an alternate captain in 2021-22. In 100 collegiate games, he totaled 51 points on 23 goals and 28 assists.
Kessel’s path also included stops in the USHL with the Fargo Force, Chicago Steel and Sioux Stampede. Across 114 games there, he had 22 points, with two goals and 20 assists, and won the Clark Cup with Sioux in 2019.
In Other News...
Islanders Finally Took A Chance On A Player They Wanted Badly
The Islanders have been circling Matias Maccelli for a while, seeing him as the kind of player who could make sense in their system long before he ever hit the market. When he finally became available, they moved quickly enough to bring him in on a one-year deal worth $2.25 million, a modest commitment for a player they clearly believe has more to offer than his current resume suggests.
For a team that has spent enough time looking for the right fit rather than the loudest splash, this is the sort of swing that can make sense. It is low-risk on paper, but the real appeal is what Maccelli might become in an environment the Islanders think can bring out more of his game, which is why the next question matters so much: whether this was simply an opportunistic add or the first step in a better fit finally paying off. [Read more 🡒]
Former Islanders Fan Favorite Just Landed A Deal That Will Sting
Ross Johnston is getting another chance to cash in on the skill set that made him such a useful role player in New York. The veteran forward, now 32, has spent the past three seasons with the Ducks after his run with the Islanders, and his game has long been built around bringing size, edge and enough reliability to help a lineup beyond the scoring touch.
The part Islanders fans will notice is how much his market has changed since he left Long Island. A new deal of this length and price point says there is still a real appetite for what Johnston offers, even if the fit is likely to be in a narrower, lower-line role. For a player who once gave the Islanders valuable two-way minutes, it is the kind of move that stings a little because it confirms he still has enough around the league to matter. [Read more 🡒]