Has Ryan Kesler played his last game as a Vancouver Canuck?

Search
Joined
Jan 17, 2007
Messages
99,709
Tokens
Not to be outdone by the reports that Martin St. Louis wants out of Tampa Bay, Vancouver turned up the drama in a big way Wednesday, yielding a stunning trade request of their own.


According to Louis Jean of TVA, Ryan Kesler has requested a trade from the Vancouver Canucks.




Somewhere, Roberto Luongo is chuckling at the idea that you can just ask for a trade and then one will happen. Have you learned nothing?


In all seriousness, though, trading Ryan Kesler would be a whole lot easier than trading Luongo, and not just because the NHL isn't about to shut down for half a year and return with a "Ryan Kesler rule" that makes his contract seem even more burdensome than before. Kesler's an impact player in the prime of his career, one that can play the wing on a first line or anchor a second or third line. He kills penalties, he gets under the skin of opponents, he hates to lose. He's versatile, gritty, and a proven playoff performer.


With the playoffs coming up, every contending team could use a guy like that, and with the cap going up, Kesler's contract, with two years remaining at $5 million apiece, is manageable.


But we're getting ahead of ourselves. Is the report true?


Not according to Kesler's agent, Kurt Overhardt:




Mike Gillis denied it as well, at least to some. To others, he said things, like, "I'm not going to debate whether the report is accurate or not," which means yes.


Of course, if it's confirmed, then it puts a lot of pressure on the Canucks to deal Kesler, and strengthens the bargaining position of his suitors. Suffice it to say, the Canucks aren't going to alter the direction of their franchise this severely, and make the biggest trade since Todd Bertuzzi for Roberto Luongo, unless they get a really good deal. If Kesler does want out, it's in his best interests to deny the report so his value stays up. And it's in Gillis's best interests for the report to be out there, as unverified as the @strombone1 account, so other GMs call and inquire.


But there's another thing working against a Kesler trade: his hand injury.


When Kesler returned from Sochi, the Canucks learned that their second-line center may have been playing with broken fingers, suffered early in the tournament.


Magically, it was an injury he was able to play through in Russia, but when he got home, no longer. Considering Henrik Sedin stayed home from the tournament to recover from an injury, so he'd be ready to help the Canucks fight for a playoff spot, it's hard to argue that Kesler has the same priorities. It's even harder if he really said what Jason Botchford of the Province has reported he was overheard saying in Sochi:


“I hope my hand isn’t broken because that would impact my trade.”


If Kesler were committed to the Canucks, you'd think his broken hand would concern him for other reasons, like the fact that his team needs him quite a bit.


They managed to survive their first game back without him, edging the St. Louis Blues 1-0 on Wednesday night. But now one has to wonder if this is the new normal. With three games left to the deadline, and Kesler's injury reportedly not so serious he won't be available down the stretch, has he played his last game as a Canuck?


Sure, the Canucks could hold onto him until the draft, but what's the point? Kesler would be an invaluable addition to a playoff team, and if the Canucks are willing to accept that they're only just barely that themselves, they could be sitting on the jewel of the trade deadline.


They might never get a better deal than now, as teams try to add an obvious improvement, and keep others from doing the same. Pittsburgh has been rumoured to be interested for a long time. There was even a rumour that a deal for Kesler fell through just prior to the Olympic break. Could Boston stomach Pittsburgh adding Ryan Kesler, who could play with Crosby, with Malkin, or return them to the three-center model they lost when Jordan Staal asked out?


A bidding war between Pittsburgh and Boston, and any other teams trying to prevent one of these two from jumping way out in front. It could be what the Flames did with Jarome Iginla, except three years earlier, when they should have done it.


It would be a truly bold move, and a tenure-defining one for Mike Gillis, but if he can exact the right package, say, two high-end prospects, or a younger centre that can step into Kesler's role in a few years, he could end the talk that the Canucks' window is about to close and start people saying it's about to open.
 

Breaking News: MikeB not running for president
Joined
Dec 19, 2011
Messages
13,179
Tokens
[h=2]Ryan Kesler's agent denies trade demand[/h] <figure class="pictureSize1 adaptVertical">
dynamic_resize
</figure> Vancouver Canucks forward Ryan Kesler (17) may or may not have demanded a trade. (Anne-Marie Sorvin/USA TODAY Sports)



Does Ryan Kesler want out of Vancouver?
Depends who you talk to.
According to TVA Sports, quoting unnamed sources, the Canucks forward has asked to be traded despite having a no-movement clause in his contract. The TVA Sports report says Kesler asked to be dealt “some time ago” but the Canucks aren’t interested in moving him.
But Kesler’s agent, Kurt Overhardt, told the Denver Post that the report is “BS” and Kesler has not requested a trade.
The NHL trade deadline is set for March 5 and Kesler is currently out of the lineup with a hand injury. Rumblings indicate the 29-year-old broke a finger player for the U.S. at the Sochi Olympics.
If Kesler, who has 20 goals and 18 assists in 60 games this season, is indeed available, a number of contending teams would likely be interested.
 

Breaking News: MikeB not running for president
Joined
Dec 19, 2011
Messages
13,179
Tokens
As a huge Canucks fan I am open to any trade(s) that will improve the team. I hope we don't trade him but depends who we get back. He is injury prone but when healthy, he's a force.
 

Rx Alchemist.
Joined
Aug 16, 2007
Messages
3,342
Tokens
St. Louis to Vancouver; Kessler to the Rangers; Callahan to Tampa. @):)

I should be a G.M.
 

Dice, Sports & Cocktails
Joined
Mar 19, 2008
Messages
13,721
Tokens
St. Louis to Vancouver; Kessler to the Rangers; Callahan to Tampa. @):)
Except st Loo owns a home in Ny area that's where he wants to go.


I should be a G.M.

Please trade Kessler he had one good season now is more fragile than a China doll. Apparently a bad team mate too. This is page one of the Torts make over of this team. Torts took the a away from him in Oct, shows what john thinks of cryan error Ryan
 

Rx Alchemist.
Joined
Aug 16, 2007
Messages
3,342
Tokens
Please trade Kessler he had one good season now is more fragile than a China doll. Apparently a bad team mate too. This is page one of the Torts make over of this team. Torts took the a away from him in Oct, shows what john thinks of cryan error Ryan

Better win it in the first or second season with Torts before he starts to lose the locker room. BTW thanks for Vigneault. It was a little rocky at first but once the guys started buying into his system it's all good so far. One thing I am grateful for is he stopped having the players giving up their bodies on shots.

Boomer Esiason, who is a huge fan, said today on his show that he still believes that it will be our captain for St. Louis. At this point I'm pretty sure it's up to Yaz.
 

Dice, Sports & Cocktails
Joined
Mar 19, 2008
Messages
13,721
Tokens
I agree I think St. Louis will be in New York. If it's for Callaghan that is a steal for tbay. St. Louis is 38
 

Forum statistics

Threads
1,119,832
Messages
13,573,876
Members
100,876
Latest member
kiemt5385
The RX is the sports betting industry's leading information portal for bonuses, picks, and sportsbook reviews. Find the best deals offered by a sportsbook in your state and browse our free picks section.FacebookTwitterInstagramContact Usforum@therx.com