The New York Islanders announced today that the club has signed defenseman Matthew Kessel to a one-year contract.
Kessel, 26, recorded three points (one goal, two assists) in 29 games with the St. Louis Blues last season. The right-hand defenseman has played in 99 career NHL games, all with St. Louis from 2023-26, totaling 13 points (three goals, 10 assists).
The Scottsdale, AZ native was originally selected by St. Louis in the fifth round (150th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft. Kessel played in parts of four seasons with the Springfield Thunderbirds (2022-25), the Blues’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, where he scored 61 points (13 goals, 48 assists) in 151 AHL games, adding one goal and one assist in 20 Calder Cup playoff games.
Prior to his professional career, Kessel played three seasons at the University of Massachusetts (2019-22), helping the club win an NCAA championship in 2021 and serving as an alternate captain for the 2021-22 season. Kessel appeared in 100 games in his collegiate career, scoring 51 points (23 goals, 28 assists). He also played for the Fargo Force, Chicago Steel, and Sioux Stampede of the United States Hockey League (USHL), totaling for 22 points (two goals, 20 assists) in 114 games while winning the Clark Cup with Sioux in 2019.
Internationally, Kessel represented Team USA at the 2024 World Championship, recording one assist in two games.
