Top 50 Canucks players of all time: #8 – Ryan Kesler

Join us this summer as we count down the top 50 Vancouver Canucks players of all time! #8 – Ryan Kesler

Coming out of Ohio State University, Ryan Kesler was selected 23rd overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the infamous 2003 NHL Draft.

The Michigan native went pro the following season, suiting up in 33 games for the Manitoba Moose before making his NHL debut with the Canucks in late November. Kesler would go on to play 28 games in Vancouver, tallying two goals and five points. The rookie provided some high energy as a 3C and even earned some penalty killing time.

Following the NHL’s 2004-2005 lockout, Kesler started to cement himself as a true shutdown centreman in the league. He only had 10 goals and 23 points in a full 82-game season. However, showcasing the ability to play a matchup role against opponents’ top lines is what kept him in the lineup. Kesler earned more trust on the penalty kill in 2005-2006, and started to form what became one of the deadliest duos in Canucks history with Alex Burrows.

Primed for a new contract, Kesler signed an offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers the following season. The Canucks would match the offer without much hesitation.

The centreman was on pace to set a career-high in points during the 2006-2007 campaign, until his season was cut short due to a hip injury – which would cause his further troubles down the road.

In 2007-2008, Kesler fully broke out as a two-way centreman. He became a 20-goal scorer while also shutting down the opposition’s top players. While the Canucks failed to make the playoffs that season, it was just another stepping stone for Kesler and the heights the team would officially reach.

The 2008-2009 season saw lots of change for Kesler. After running a duo with Burrows for most of his career, head coach Alain Vigneault plucked Burrows from Kesler’s wing and put him with the Sedins. We don’t need to explain to you how well that worked; however, that left Kesler in search of a new linemate.

Luckily for Kesler, the Canucks signed future Hall of Famer Mats Sundin and the two were also accompanied by Pavol Demitra. That did not slow Kesler down, as he scored career highs in goals (26), assists (33) and points (59) in 80 games. Kesler went on to win team MVP and was recognized for his defensive play by finishing as a Selke finalist. Unfortunately, the Canucks would fall to the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round.

One year later, Kesler continued to take steps forward. Now paired with Mason Raymond and Mikael Samuelsson, Kesler scored 25 goals and 50 assists for a new career high of 75 points. Their speed helped Kesler have the most successful season of his career, earning him a six-year, $30 million extension with the Canucks – one of which he would not finish in Vancouver.

Later that playoffs, Kesler’s 10 points in 12 games were not enough for the Canucks to get past the Blackhawks in the second round for the second consecutive season. Kesler moved up in Selke consideration, finishing second for the award.

However, it was the 2010-2011 season that Canucks fans will never forget Kesler for.

Having just lost to the eventual Stanley Cup Champions and what turned out to be their kryptonite, the Chicago Blackhawks, the Canucks went out and signed a new defensive centre, Manny Malhotra. This allowed Malhotra to take on more defensive matchups, freeing up Kesler to flourish offensively. He may not have set a career high in points – finishing just two points (73) behind – but he hit a new goal-scoring peak of 41.

But it wasn’t just his offensive outburst, as Kesler was finally recognized for his defensive prowess, taking home the Selke Trophy as the league’s top defensive forward – the first and only Canuck to win the award.

That playoff run, Kesler and the Canucks finally broke through, defeating the Blackhawks in Game 7 overtime when Burrows “slayed the dragon”. Kesler had one goal and five points in seven games that series. However, it was the second round where Kesler completely carried the Canucks.

It took him a little while to get into the series; however, once Game 3 rolled around, he could not be stopped. Many fans call Kesler “Beast Mode” for his efforts against the Predators, scoring five goals and 11 points in the six-game series – 10 points in the final four games.

Including his overtime winning goal in Game 3: