Who Thought Of This?

Who come up with this brain-storming thought in the first place or is it because he has an injured hand and has to sit out for a short period of time?

Ryan Kesler to the best of my knowledge is NOT moving unless the Canucks want him gone.

Dating back he was drafted in the fifth round, 89th overall by the Brampton Battalion in the OHL and was selected in the first round, 23rd overall by the Canucks in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

The 03 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Gaylord Entertainment Center (now Bridgestone Arena) in Nashville, Tennessee – June 21.

The first round selection that season was Marc-Andre Fleury of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, who went to Pittsburgh.

Yes he has roots in Michigan he has spent his entire 10 year career with the Canucks and is best known as being a two-way forward who won the Selke Trophy in 2011.

He did make mention for the CCHA All-Rookie team when he was playing with the Buckeyes and was also named CCHA Rookie of the week three separate times.

As a youngster growing up his idol was fellow Livonia Michigan player Mike Modano, who he tells everyone is his role model.

If you think about it, Ryan has not had consistent line-mates for some time and while the Canucks are confident that he can play with anyone, does it not make sense for him to play with regular wingers, to develop chemistry.

Can this not be of benefit to the team, the organization and mostly – Ryan himself.

Who were his line-mates and in thinking of this I realized that he had seven had throughout the entire last season of play.

Of these seven players, Cody Hodgson and Daniel Sedin played fewer minutes with Kesler than the others.

When you look at the numbers they play out in his favour and he simply needs someone consistent to play with.

Individual Stats for Ryan while playing 5 on 5 hockey are listed below.

Legend

G = Goals

A = Assists F

FirstA = First (primary) Assists

Points = Points (Goals + Assists)

Shots = Shots on goal

iFenwick = Individual Fenwick = Shots on Goal + Shots directed at net that missed net

iCorsi = Individual Corsi = iFenwick + Shots directed at net that were blocked

/60 = Rate per 60 minutes for each stat

IGP = Individual Goals Percentage = The % of goals scored while player was on ice that the player scored

IAP = Individual Assists Percentage = The % of goals scored while player was on ice that the player has an assist on

IPP = Individual Points Percentage = The % of goals scored while player was on ice that the player had a point on

The Canucks centre Ryan Kesler who is only 29 spend time following practice telling the onslaught of media that he never has asked the Club for a trade.

With the team having 21 games remaining in the season and working to make the post-season, he naturally would like to remain here for the stretch run and told the media “I never commented to anyone that I wanted out and my heart is with this group and making the playoffs.”

Kesler added that the rumours are “completely false” that he asked to be traded – recently or ever. “I don’t want to talk about this,” he continued. “I don’t want this to be a distraction…I’m happy to be here.”

While there’s lots of speculation that the Canucks could be looking to move the 29-year-old centre, TVA Sports reported on Wednesday night that Kesler approached the team requesting to be dealt.

Speaking to Adrian Dater of The Denver Post on Wednesday night, Kesler’s agent Kurt Overhardt also denied the story, calling it “a bunch of B.S.”

Kesler is recovering from a hand injury and did not dress for Vancouver’s post-Olympic opener against the St. Louis Blues, which they won by a narrow score of 1-0 and it is expected that he suits up to play Friday against the Minnesota Wild.

He has two (2) more years remaining on a six-year, $30 million contract, which pays him $5 million in each of the next two seasons.

Besides who wouldn’t want to be in Vancouver?