The former Vancouver Canuck can call California home for the next few years.
Kesler’s new deal is huge. Six years, $41.25 million. ($6.875M AAV).
— Eric Stephens (@icemancometh) July 15, 2015
One word: wow.
Ryan Kesler was acquired in the Nick Bonino deal last offseason that saw the Ducks load up down the middle with a proven two-way center in the 30-year old Livonia native. This past season saw Kesler put up his seventh 20+ goal season of his career and chart 47 points. Not bad for a #2 center playing on a very deep team. His best season came in 2010-11, when he scored 41 goals and added 73 points, one of two 70+ point seasons in his career. That season also saw him win the Selke trophy for the first and only time in his career.
This season he ranked 6th in faceoff wins and his 56.3% faceoff percentage was just a few ticks behind guys like Jonathan Toews and Claude Giroux. A career CF% of 53.5% and FF% of 53.3%, Kesler took a mild step back in that regard posting a CF% of 50.5% and FF% of 49.7% in 2014-15. Could this be a sign of things to come?
Ryan Kesler scored 1.34 points/hour at 5v5 from 2011-present. Others tied at that level: Mike Richards, Daniel Briere and Patrick Eaves.
— Jonathan Willis (@JonathanWillis) July 15, 2015
His raise is pretty solid from his $5 million remaining on the six-year contract he signed with Vancouver back in 2010. Interestingly enough, his contract runs through the 2021-22 season, the same year Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf‘s contracts expire. He will likely be playing with Jakob Silfverberg and new addition Carl Hagelin, so speed will be the least of his problems for his linemates.
More from the Anaheim Ducks Official Press Release:
Kesler, 30 (8/31/84), appeared in 81 regular season games last year, scoring 20-27=47 points with 75 penalty minutes (PIM). Kesler led the club in faceoff percentage (56.3%, ninth in NHL), faceoff wins (937), shots (205), and ranked second among forwards in hits (169), takeaways (47) and blocked shots (69). He added 7-6=13 points with a +2 rating and 24 PIM in 16 playoff games, leading the Ducks in faceoff wins (221, second in NHL) and percentage (57.6%, fourth in NHL). Each of his six playoff assists were primary (first assist) and either tied the score or put the Ducks ahead. In addition, four of his seven postseason goals came in the third period.
Acquired with a third-round selection in the 2015 NHL Draft from Vancouver in exchange for center Nick Bonino, defenseman Luca Sbisa and first-round and third-round selections in the 2014 NHL Draft on June 27, 2014, Kesler has scored 202-238=440 points with a +20 rating and 669 PIM in 736 career NHL games with Anaheim and Vancouver. The 6-2, 208-pound center has also collected 19-32=51 points with 95 PIM in 73 career Stanley Cup Playoff games. A 2011 Frank J. Selke Trophy winner and 2011 NHL All-Star, Kesler owns a 53.3 career faceoff percentage (6,309-for-11,823) and has led his respective teams in faceoff wins in six of the last eight seasons.
A native of Livonia, Michigan, Kesler is a two-time Olympian with Team USA and 2010 silver medal winner. He has appeared in the last two Olympic Winter Games, helping lead the U.S. to the championship game in Vancouver with two goals (2-0=2) in six contests. He has also won gold at the 2004 World Junior Championship in Finland and 2002 Under-18 Championship in Slovakia. Kesler was originally selected by Vancouver in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2003 NHL Draft.
tweets courtesy of @icemancometh and @JonathanWillis
press release courtesy of Ducks.nhl.com
cap numbers courtesy of Cap Friendly
