It seems that Tampa Bay Lightning forward Martin St. Louis may not have been the only player that has asked for a change of scenery this season.
NHL trade rumors: Ryan Kesler requested trade out of Vancouver
Ryan Kesler reportedly asked for a trade out of Vancouver earlier this season. Will the Canucks deal him before the trade deadline?
Jonathan Daniel
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According to Louis Jean of TVA Sports, Canucks forward Ryan Kesler asked for a trade out of Vancouver"some time ago," and that while the team does not want to deal him, it may not have a choice in the matter. Jean also added that the request from Kesler goes back to the start of the regular season and that if a trade does happen it could be more likely to happen at the NHL draft than before the Mar. 5 trade deadline.
Kesler’s agent denied the trade request story on Wednesday night, which should have probably been expected.
#Canucks - agent for Ryan Kesler tells CKWX that trade request story is false.
— News1130 Sports (@News1130Sports) February 27, 2014
Kesler, 29, is signed through the end of the 2015-16 season and carries a cap hit of $5 million per season.
In 60 games this season he’s scored 20 goals to go with 18 assists.
He’s probably never going to be a 40-goal, 75-point center like he was a couple of years ago, but he is still one of the better two-way centers in the NHL and not only plays a fierce defensive game, but is also a consistent 20-goal threat. That’s a valuable asset in the NHL and one that every contending team in the league would love to have on its second line.
Kesler is currently out of the Canucks’ lineup with a broken hand (coach John Tortorella described him as “day-to-day”) but it did not prevent him from playing for the United States in the Olympics.
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