Kesler set for ‘emotional night’
Longtime Canuck hopes fans appreciative of 11 years, but boos will jack him up
Ryan Kesler remains a superb shutdown centre and could have gone on the defensive Wednesday, but was open, honest and motivated to face his former team Thursday at Rogers Arena. And if you think it’s just another stop on the 82-game NHL grind, think again.
“The experience of playing in big games, those prepare you for big moments and (Thursday) is a big game — I’ve definitely had this one circled for a long time,” the Anaheim Ducks centre said Wednesday. “It’s going to be an emotional night for me. If they boo me, it will probably jack me up even more.
“Hopefully, they (fans) appreciated the 11 years I played here and remember all the good times. I can honestly say I left everything out there every night and wore the jersey with pride. I grew up with the fans.”
Kesler also grew tired. That 2011 Stanley Cup final appearance seems like a mirage with a five-game, firstround exit in 2012, being swept in the opening round in 2013 and failing to make the playoffs last season.
It wasn’t about coaching, it was about contending, and Kesler didn’t see that happening for the Canucks. His agenda was evident and moving to an elite club wasn’t just an option, it was the objective and waiving his no-trade clause would be a mere formality.
A meeting with Canucks general manager Jim Benning in early June was brief and earlier overtures from club president and former linemate Trevor Linden to consider remaining here never gained traction.
“In talking with Jim and Trevor, we just decided it was time to move on, it was something that had to be done,” added Kesler.
What struck Linden was the early maturity in Kesler’s game and by that time the former Canucks captain was more of a mentor to the emerging forward. However, when Linden transitioned into his current role, he knew the landscape had to change.
“The bottom line is we were really focused on putting a group together and having guys who want to be part of your group, and that was probably the most important thing we wanted to accomplish,” said Linden. “That’s been a real positive development in the locker-room.”
The Canucks got younger and deeper. By also acquiring draft picks in the trade, Benning landed Nick Bonino, 26, Luca Sbisa, 24, Derek Dorsett, 27, and Jared McCann, 18 and the early returns have been encouraging.
Meanwhile, there’s enough gas left in the 30-year-old Kesler to be the difference in a tough division. In a Nov. 9 clash with the Canucks in Anaheim, Kesler set up the opening goal, threw three hits, won 14 of 21 draws, logged 22:09 of ice time and hit the crossbar in a 2-1 Canucks shootout win.
“We have the talent, but it takes a lot of things to go right to challenge for a Cup,” said Kesler, who has six goals and nine assists in 20 games. “We have a young group that’s getting better every day.”
Which is good. It will keep that smile intact, because we know how losing affects the perfectionist.
“We’ve seen grumpy Kes every now and then and they’ve seen grumpy Bruce — so it goes both ways,” said Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau. “He’s been great for us and makes other teams change against us, rather than us changing against them.”