Per Pierre LeBrun, Vancouver Canucks forward Ryan Kesler has been traded to the Anaheim Ducks for defenceman Luca Sbisa, forward Nick Bonino and Anaheim’s first round pick (24th Overall) in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. The teams also agreed to swap third round picks once the deal goes through.
Kesler, turning 30 in August, scored 25 goals and 18 assists for 43 points last season. Kesler also competed for Team USA in the 2014 Winter Olympics, scoring four points in six games. The centerman is making $5M for the next two seasons. John Shannon reported on the Fan 590 this trade should have went down at the trade deadline this year but Kesler’s family nixed.
Sbisa, 24, played 30 games with the Anaheim Ducks last season. The 6’2″ defenceman is a restricted free agent next summer and was paid $2.175M last season. Sbisa was originally drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers and was sent to Anaheim with Joffrey Lupul and two first round draft picks for Chris Pronger.
Bonino, 26, had a career year with 22 goals and 27 assists for 49 points in 77 games. He also added four points in seven playofff games. The natural center has three years left on his contract, containing a $1.9M cap hit.
More details to come.
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