Ryan Kesler
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Position | Centre |
| Shoots | Right |
| Height Weight |
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 205 lb (93 kg/14 st 9 lb) |
| NHL Team | Vancouver Canucks |
| Nationality |  United States |
| Born | August 31, 1984 , Livonia, Michigan |
| NHL Draft | 23rd overall, 2003 Vancouver Canucks |
| Pro career | 2003 – present |
Ryan Kesler (b. August 31, 1984, Livonia, Michigan) is a professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League.
Contents |
[edit] Playing career
Ryan Kesler grew up playing minor hockey in Michigan until entering the U.S. National Team Development Program with the U-18s in 2000-01. As part of the program, Kesler scored a total of 30 goals and 69 assists for 99 points in 131 games, but most significantly, led the U.S. to a gold medal in the 2002 U-18 World Juniors, receiving Best Player honours[1].
The following season, Kesler left the program to play college hockey for the Ohio State Buckeyes in the CCHA. As a freshman with Ohio State, Kesler scored 11 goals and 20 assists to rank fourth in team scoring, behind third-year forward R.J. Umberger - also a Vancouver Canucks first round draft pick. Kesler's play as a freshman earned him an honourable mention for the CCHA All-Rookie Team[2]. He was also league rookie of the week three times.
In the same season, Kesler helped the U.S. National Junior team to a fourth place finish at the 2003 World Juniors, scoring 7 points in 7 games - second overall on the team.
That summer, Kesler was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks 23rd overall in the first round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Upon being drafted, Kesler played his first professional season for the Manitoba Moose in 2003-04, playing 33 games and scoring 11 points. During that season, Kesler made his first NHL appearance on November 24, 2003 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and also played a total of 28 games for the Vancouver Canucks, scoring five points. His first NHL goal was scored on November 29, 2003 against the Calgary Flames.
Also part of Kesler's 2003-04 season was his participation in the 2004 World Juniors. Kesler's second World Juniors, he helped the U.S. win their first gold medal in the history of the tournament, scoring 3 goals in 6 games.
During the 2004-05 NHL lockout, Kesler played a full season for the Moose, where he emerged as one of the Canucks' top prospects, playing in all situations, finishing third in team scoring, and most notably, earning team MVP honours[3].
Following the lockout, Kesler played his first full season for the Canucks in 2005-06, scoring 23 points in 82 games. As Vancouver failed to make the playoffs that year, Kesler participated in the 2006 World Championships for the United States, who were eliminated in the quarter-finals.
During the following offseason, Kesler - a restricted free agent - signed an offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers worth $1.9 million USD. The move was controversial on the Flyers' part, as extending offer sheets to restricted free agents was very rare at the time and was generally criticized around the league[4]. The Canucks had a week to decide whether to match the offer or take a second-round pick from the Flyers in 2007 NHL Entry Draft as compensation; they matched the Flyers' offer two days after the offer sheet was extended and re-signed Kesler.
Mid-way through the 2006-07 season, Kesler seriously injured his hip, leaving him out of the line-up for the remainder of the season, subsequently holding him to 16 points in 48 games. Following hip surgery, Kesler was projected to be out of the line-up for 12-16 weeks, but courageously returned after only ten[5] for the first game of the 2007 NHL Playoffs on April 11th against the Dallas Stars. As a surprise starter, Kesler played 27:51 in 39 shifts - much higher than was expected in his first game back - in the Canucks 5-4 victory in quadruple overtime. However, in a case of bad luck, Kesler was once again re-injured, displacing his index finger after trying to block a shot. As a result, Kesler missed the rest of the playoffs, in which Vancouver beat Dallas in seven games, but was eliminated in the second round by the Anaheim Ducks, the eventual Stanley Cup winners.
The next off-season, Kesler signed a 3- year deal that would see him make an annual salary of $1.75 million. This contract was actually a paycut compared to Kesler's previous contract, however, this was not because of a drop in play, but because of the Flyers' previous 1-year, $1.9 million offer sheet that the Canucks were forced to meet.
At the beginning of the 2007-08 season, Kesler was the subject of controversy, as he was viciously cross-checked in the face by Jesse Boulerice in the third period of a game against the Philadelphia Flyers. The cross-check left Kesler on the ice for a period of time, but he fortunately escaped serious injury. Boulerice was subsequently given a 25 game suspension, matching the largest such penatly ever given in league history[6]. Later in the season, Kesler was involved in another incident in which he was stomped on the leg by Anaheim Ducks defensemen Chris Pronger who received an eight-game suspension. [7]
The 2007-08 season has seen Kesler establish himself as a solid two-way center within the league. At even strength and on the penalty kill, Kesler forms a regular and effective duo with linemate Alexandre Burrows[8] and also receives regular power-play time.
[edit] Family
During the season, Ryan lives with his wife Andrea and three dogs in Vancouver, and in Michigan in the off-season.
Ryan and his wife Andrea are expecting a daughter in 2008.
[edit] Achievements
- 2002: Gold Medal (2002 World U18 Juniors)
- 2002: Best Player Award (2002 World U18 Juniors)
- 2003: CCHA All-Rookie Honourable Mention Team
- 2004: Gold Medal (2004 World Juniors)
- 2005: Manitoba Moose Team MVP
[edit] Career statistics
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2000-01 | US National Team | Under-18 | 26 | 8 | 20 | 28 | 24 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| US National Team | NAHL | 56 | 7 | 21 | 28 | 40 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |||
| 2001-02 | US National Team | Under-18 | 46 | 11 | 33 | 44 | 23 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| US National Team | USHL | 13 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 10 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |||
| US National Team | NAHL | 10 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |||
| 2002-03 | Ohio State University | CCHA | 40 | 11 | 20 | 31 | 44 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2003-04 | Manitoba Moose | AHL | 33 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 29 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2003-04 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 28 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 16 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2004-05 | Manitoba Moose | AHL | 78 | 30 | 28 | 58 | 105 | 14 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 8 | ||
| 2005-06 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 82 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 79 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2006-07 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 48 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 40 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2007-08 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 80 | 21 | 16 | 37 | 79 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| NHL Totals | 238 | 39 | 42 | 81 | 214 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
[edit] International play
Played for the United States in:
- 2002 U18 World Juniors
- Gold Medal
- Best Player Award
- 2003 World Juniors
- 2004 World Juniors
- Gold Medal
- 2006 World Championships
[edit] International Statistics
| Year | Team | Comp | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | United States | WJC | 7 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 6 |
| 2004 | United States | WJC | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| 2006 | United States | WC | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Junior int'l totals | 13 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 12 | ||
| Senior int'l totals | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
[edit] External links
- Ryan Kesler's career stats at The Internet Hockey Database
- 2006 USA Men's National Hockey Team Media Guide
- Official Vancouver Canucks Player Bio
[edit] References
- ^ Spisak, Theresa. Michigan Native Ryan Kesler Revels In Northern Exposure. USA Hockey. Retrieved on 2008-03-01.
- ^ Scherlinck Named To Bauer/CCHA All-Rookie Honorable Mention Team. Ferris State University. Retrieved on 2008-03-01.
- ^ MacInnis, Matt. Canucks AHL prospects season review. Hockey's Future. Retrieved on 08-03-01.
- ^ Flyer's defend Kesler offer. CBC Sports. Retrieved on 08-03-01.
- ^ Botchford, Jason. Finger of fate hurts Kesler. Vancouver Province. Retrieved on 08-03-02.
- ^ Flyers' Boulerice suspended 25 games. CBC Sports. Retrieved on 08-03-02.
- ^ Pronger gets eight-game suspension. The Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved on 08-03-15.
- ^ Herrington, Jen. It Takes Two: Different paths, same goal - Ryan Kesler and Alex Burrows team up. Vancouver Canucks Limited Partnership and the National Hockey League. Retrieved on 08-03-02.
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