Ryan Kesler still hasn't inflicted much damage against Canucks

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      Barring injury against the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday (December 27), Ryan Kesler will lace up the skates on Sunday (December 28) for his third game of the season against his former teammates.

      The Canucks will be in Anaheim to play the Western Conference-leading Ducks.

      Vancouver is in third place in the Pacific Division, a point behind the San Jose Sharks with two games in hand.

      The Canucks won their first game this year against the Ducks on November 9. It came in a 2-1 shootout victory crowned by former Duck Nick Bonino's goal.

      In the same game, Kesler hit the post with his shootout attempt, but he had an assist on the Ducks' only goal.

      In their second match on November 20, the Ducks defeated the Canucks 4-3 in the shootout.

      The Michigan native was held off the scoresheet this time. He was also the only one of three Anaheim players who failed to beat Canucks goalie Eddie Lack in the shootout.

      In his first season with the Ducks, Kesler is second in team scoring with 12 goals and 15 assists in 36 games. The Ducks' scoring leader, Ryan Getzlaf, has 12 goals and 27 assists.

      Bonino, who came to Vancouver in the Kesler trade, has eight goals and 13 assists. That puts Bonino fourth in team scoring behind the top line of Daniel Sedin (30 points), Henrik Sedin (29 points), and Radim Vrbata (25 points).

      As of December 22, the Canucks had three players on their injury list: Dan Hamhuis, Jannik Hansen, and Zack Kassian.

      Comments

      6 Comments

      Norman

      Dec 27, 2014 at 7:23am

      I'm still trying to figure out the point of this article.

      A lot of the local media, especially the so-called sports experts, seem to hold a grudge against Kessler. They forget the contribution he made in the 2011 run to the Stanley Cup. He is an older player, American by birth, who wanted to get away from the train wreck Canucks of last season and go to a team with a real shot at winning the Stanley Cup, before his age and injuries caught up with him.

      Why should he have an everlasting allegiance to Vancouver? He just wants to have a shot at the ultimate prize, like any real pro, in any sport. Grow up Vancouver, this city or its sports teams are not the ultimate mecca for everybody.

      Neil Macrae

      Dec 27, 2014 at 10:29am

      The article is weak for sure but Kesler is a clown nonetheless .Just getting rid of that bulbous tumor was addition by subtraction for Vancouver. The fact he , Tortorella and Luongo are gone removes the sideshows from the team .

      Kesler is a legend in his own mind . Good riddance.

      Sammy 27

      Dec 27, 2014 at 11:16am

      Norman, the man signed a lucrative contract and got the no trade clause he requested. With that, the team builds it's lineup and draft choices based on the long term commitment. He didn't have an everlasting allegiance to Vancouver, but he signed an allegiance for the length of his contract, and then reneged.. Then when things don't seem to be going the way he would like them to, he decides he wants to change things up for his personal desires. He was an Assistant captain, and he bailed out on that responsibility and honour by asking to leave the team. Luongo was a former captain that did the same.
      Kesler was on the Canucks and US Olympic teams. Happy to live in the glory when things were rosy and looking to jump ship instead of pulling together to correct course when things imploded. Could be Kesler does spell team with an I. He spelled contract with an I too.

      Who cares

      Dec 27, 2014 at 1:43pm

      Kesler made his own bed by asking to be traded. As much as I miss having him in a Canucks uniform I don't ever want to see anyone playing for the Canucks that doesn't want to be there ie Kesler, Luongo etc.

      Martin Dunphy

      Dec 27, 2014 at 2:58pm

      @Macrae:

      The only reason Luongo was a "sideshow" was because of guys like you.

      AC

      Dec 27, 2014 at 6:47pm

      Kesler - who's that and who cares.