Ryan Kesler News

Kesler is the NHL 2K11 video game cover boy
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March 9
Vancouver Province
 
"Video game maker 2K Sports is announcing tomorrow that Canuck Ryan Kesler will be on the cover of the upcoming NHL 2K11. Kesler had been at 2K's motion capture studio in Las Vegas last year, and the announcement comes after a Kesler's stellar play alongside Patrick Kane for Team USA at this year's Olympics. 2K hyped his Olympic performance on their website, a noting his empty-netter against Martin Brodeur in Canada's 5-3 round-robin loss to the US. Funny, no mention of the US loss in the gold medal game..."
Kesler and Ladd continue their feud
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March 6
Vancouver Sun
 
"Ryan Kesler declined the invitation to fight the player he had called a coward. Thirty-seven seconds into Friday night's one-sided game, Chicago winger Andrew Ladd went at Kesler in the corner and tried to goad the Canuck centre into a fight. "I fought him already and you know some of my teammates told me to leave him alone," Kesler said after the Canucks dropped a 6-3 decision to the Hawks. "I don't think it's a good tradeoff for our team. Me sitting in the box with him for five minutes isn't something I want to do." The feud between Ladd and Kesler goes back to last spring's playoffs when Ladd cross-checked Kesler in the face. In the teams' most recent meeting, Jan. 23 in Vancouver, the ..."
Mutual admiration society: Kane and Kesler
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March 6
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Beneath all the trash talk, physical play and fighting that typifies the rivalry between the Blackhawks and the Vancouver Canucks is a sense of closeness that developed during the Olympics. Patrick Kane was a Team USA locker-room neighbor of the Canucks' Ryan Kesler, who called Andrew Ladd a ''coward'' earlier this season after a fight. Paired together, Kane and Kesler helped the Americans earn a silver medal. ''He's a good guy,'' Kane said. ''All hockey guys are like that off the ice. We all get along. But on the ice [in the NHL], it's just another rivalry and a different story.'' Kesler also used the ''good guy'' description for Kane and came away impressed with the winger's game. ..."
Kesler has at least 1 friend on Hawks
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March 6
Chicago Tribune
 
"Ryan Kesler quickly is becoming the opponent Blackhawks fans -- and some players -- love to hate. The talented Canucks center plays with an edge and had a memorable fight with the Hawks' Andrew Ladd during a Jan. 23 game. Afterward, Kesler called Ladd "a coward." But Kesler has one friend on the Hawks -- at least off the ice. "He's a good guy," said winger Patrick Kane, who was Kesler's teammate on the U.S. Olympic team and sat next to him in the Americans' locker room. "At the same time, we're enemies. We're on different teams and I probably don't have to see him for another four years." Kane and Kesler reunited Friday. Beforehand, Kesler had nothing but praise for Kane. "He's a great ..."
Ryan Kesler and Patrick Kane will put their friendship on ice tonight
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March 5
Vancouver Sun
 
"Ryan Kesler got all warm and fuzzy for a minute Thursday when he was asked about his new good friend Patrick Kane. Yep, that's right, Kesler and Kane are pals. Thick as thieves. Does this mean there'll be a pre-game hug at centre ice before tonight's game between the Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center? "It is going to be weird," Kesler acknowledged after an early-afternoon stroll down Michigan Avenue. "Obviously, he became a friend over those two weeks and it will be a little different playing against him." Those two weeks, of course, were the Winter Olympics, where Kesler, Kane and Los Angeles Kings' winger Dustin Brown formed one of the tournament's most effective lines ..."
Canucks' 6-3 win over Detroit Red Wings makes history
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March 4
Vancouver Province
 
"Forget where Detroit is in the standings, a win at Joe Louis Arena still sparks fist-pumping, expletive-filled oaths. Ryan Kesler put the bookends on a 6-3 Canucks' victory Wednesday, playing in front of friends and family for the first time since he returned with a silver medal around his neck from his Team U.S.A.'s heartbreak overtime loss to Canada in the gold-medal game at the Vancouver Olympics. Had you not known otherwise, you would never have guessed he'd played the biggest, emotionally draining game of his life three days prior, then shifted gears back to NHL play the night before in Columbus, where he played college hockey, so fleet and so powerful was his performance Wednesday ..."
Luongo brings gold medal on the road -- and shows it to Kesler
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March 3
Vancouver Province
 
"Just in case Ryan Kesler never got a glance at it on Sunday, Roberto Luongo brought his gold medal along on this road trip. "I've shown it to Ryan already," Luongo said after the morning skate on Tuesday. As for the $20,000 he gets for being a Canadian gold-medallist, Luongo said he needs time to think about what to apply it to. "I haven't decided yet, but I'm probably going to donate it to charity," he said. Most Canuck Olympians skipped the closing ceremonies, Luongo to be with his family, Daniel Sedin shunning all things Games-related after Sweden was bounced by Slovakia."
Canucks insist their teammate Ryan Kesler is no ugly American
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March 2
Vancouver Sun
 
"Ryan Kesler ruffled a few Canadian feathers with some of his comments during the Olympic hockey tournament, but his Vancouver teammates figure all will be forgiven when he pulls on his Canuck uniform tonight. Kesler was knocked at home for talking about his hate for Team Canada prior to a qualification round game between the Canadians and his Team USA. He also complained about some of the heckling he was getting on the streets of Vancouver from Canadian fans — "No, they're not (creative), they're rude. I won't get into detail. None of it's PG," he said — and after Sunday's 3-2 overtime loss to Canada, Kesler said: "We proved that it's not just Canada's game." Oh yeah, he also went on TV ..."
Demitra to join Kesler line
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March 2
Vancouver Province
 
"Alain Vigneault started Pavol Demitra on the fourth line the last time the Canucks played, but the Slovak and leading Olympic scorer will be on the second line Tuesday night against Columbus. "Pavol was out for so long, we were just trying to get him to find his timing and his rhythm," the coach said after the depleted Canucks practiced at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Monday afternoon. "But if he's going to help our team, he's a top-two-line player, without a doubt." Demitra missed the first 47 games of the season recovering from shoulder surgeries and complications, then left the club on its pre-Olympics road trip after his wife was hospitalized, returning to play in the final game of ..."
Olympic gold hockey loss devastates U.S. stars Kesler, Parise
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March 1
Vancouver Sun
 
"There was no place for the defeated Americans to go, no immediate trudge to the dressing room, no hurling of sticks down a hallway in frustration. In the Olympics, you have to stand there and watch the winners celebrate and await your silver medals. For some, it was sheer agony. "You just want to get out of there," admitted Zach Parise, whose goal with 24.4 seconds left in regulation forced the overtime, won 3-2 by Canada. "It sucked. We had a chance to win, a chance to get a gold. We thought the whole game we had a chance to win." The Americans did, even though they trailed 2-0 midway through the middle period. Vancouver Canuck centre Ryan Kesler brought his team within one on a sublime ..."
Kesler hears cheers, then sees stars in Minnesota
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February 15
Vancouver Sun
 
"It was a strange day for Ryan Kesler, who received a rousing ovation from Minnesota fans before the game, almost lost his head to a Derek Boogaard elbow during the game and then headed home where he expects to hear boos. Kesler was one of 12 Olympians -- seven Canucks and five Wild players -- who were introduced in a pre-game ceremony Sunday. As the lone American, Kesler received a huge cheer from a packed house at the Xcel Energy Centre. "Obviously, it felt good to be cheered in another building for once," Kesler said. "And I'll (probably) be booed at GM Place." Oops. Make that Canada Hockey Place. Kesler's Olympic experience flashed before his eyes early in the third period when, while ..."
Vigneault points finger at Canuck Olympians after ugly loss in Minnesota
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February 15
Vancouver Sun
 
"Alain Vigneault hopes the Vancouver Canuck Olympians play better for their respective countries than they did Sunday against the Minnesota Wild. The Canuck coach pointed to fatigue and a less than sterling performance from his big guns as the main contributors to an ugly 6-2 loss to the Wild. It wasn't the ending anyone had in mind for an 18-day, eight-game road trip that spanned some 12,000 kilometres by the time the Canucks returned home Sunday night. Goalie Roberto Luongo got the hook and Daniel and Henrik Sedin were nearly invisible. Vancouver's other four Olympians weren't much better on a Valentine's Day when the Canucks collectively couldn't muster much heart. "Today was our third ..."
Guess who's leading Vancouver's power-play offence
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February 14
Vancouver Province
 
"Time for a pop quiz. Who's the Canucks' leading power-play producer? The obvious answer is Henrik or Daniel Sedin, but it's Ryan Kesler with 10 goals and 22 points on the man-advantage. To put that in perspective, heading into play Saturday night he was tied for eighth in the league for power-play goals with names like Ovechkin, Malkin and Kovalchuk. In points, he has as many as Sidney Crosby does on the power play. Kesler's linemate Mason Raymond is next in power-play goals on the Canucks with eight, then their other linemate, Mikael Samuelsson, although he gets most of his power-play time with the Sedins. They're not the Big Line, but the Kesler trio has been the best line game in, game ..."
Canucks cut off contract talks with Kesler until after the season
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February 1
Vancouver Province
 
"The Canucks have cut off contract negotiations with Ryan Kesler and don't plan to resume them until after the season. It's a decision made, in part, because the sides have reached an impasse and Vancouver is trying to avoid any distractions which can accompany in-season bargaining. But it has created some frustration in the Kesler camp. He is a pending restricted free agent who will now have to wait until after the season to see if he can get the multi-year deal he's seeking with the Canucks. "It's frustrating and it's disappointing," Kesler's agent Kurt Overhardt said. "He is a core player for the Canucks who brings his heart and soul every night. He puts it all on the ice. He's a great ..."
Canucks' Kesler calls Blackhawks' Ladd a 'coward'
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January 25
Chicago Tribune
 
"Add another chapter to the Blackhawks' nasty rivalry with the Canucks. Following Vancouver's 5-1 victory over the Hawks on Saturday night, center Ryan Kesler called Hawks winger Andrew Ladd a "coward." Apparently, Kesler is still angry about a hit by Ladd during last season's Western Conference semifinals. Late in the first period Saturday night the two dropped their gloves, took off their helmets and squared off. After sizing each other up they came together and Ladd drilled Kesler with a quick, hard left. Kesler then lifted Ladd's leg and took him to the ice. As they were escorted off the ice, they jawed at one another and Ladd pointed to a spot under his eye, indicating where Kesler had ..."
Canucks' Kesler has harsh words for Ladd
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January 25
TSN.ca
 
"Vancouver Canucks fans may want to circle March 5 on the calendar. That's the next time their team faces the Chicago Blackhawks, who they handily defeated 5-1 Saturday night at GM Place. It will also mark the first time the two sides meet following harsh words from forward Ryan Kesler towards Blackhawks winger Andrew Ladd. ''He's a coward and that's the way it is,'' Kesler told TEAM 1040 radio following Saturday's game. Ladd got the best of Kesler in a fight in the first period, but the friction between the two dates back quite some time."
Canuck Ryan Kesler pumped up over U.S. juniors victory
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January 7
Vancouver Sun
 
"As the lone American on the Vancouver Canucks. Ryan Kesler has been revelling in Team USA's world junior triumph over Canada on Tuesday. His elation continued Wednesday. "Obviously I have been chirping the Canadian guys," winked Kesler. "I'm surprised four of them actually stepped up to bet me. You guys in the media must have said something because no one wanted to bet me and then, all of the sudden, four guys stepped up. It was nice doing business with them." The losing quarter was comprised of Alex Burrows, Shane O'Brien, Willie Mitchell and Tanner Glass. Kesler claimed he demanded his prize money in U.S. funds but ultimately settled for loonies. "Kess has been chirping us so hopefully ..."
Kesler will savor the Olympic scene
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January 6
Columbus Dispatch
 
"Ohio State product Ryan Kesler has become a fan favorite in this scenic port city for his tenacious play and burgeoning scoring touch. But the Canucks center is not naive enough to think he will be cheered when he dons the Team USA sweater next month during the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The Americans play Team Canada on Feb. 21. "Everyone is pro-Canada here and they hate U.S.-born players, but somehow they like me," said Kesler, a native of Livonia, Mich. "Hopefully, I will get some cheers but I probably will get booed." On Friday, Kesler became just the second OSU men's hockey player to be named to an Olympic team. Andre Signoretti, a member of the Buckeyes from 1998-2000, represented ..."
'It's about showing up': Coach praises Kesler's game-changing tilt
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December 23
Vancouver Province
 
"He was talking about Ryan Kesler's near suicide mission, remarking on the centre's decision to step into the ring with Shea Weber for a second-period mud wrestle. But Alain Vigneault could have been talking about the Canucks' season. He captured it nicely. "It's about showing up," Vigneault said. It sure is. It's about showing up on the ice, and in the standings, too. The Canucks did both Tuesday. They steamrolled the hottest team in hockey in a 4-1 drubbing of the Nashville Predators and crept into the top eight for the first time since April. At this pace, they should bring home the Stanley Cup sometime around 2021. They could actually make that happen a lot quicker if they played a lot ..."
Kesler, Mitchell mix it up at Canucks practice
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December 12
Vancouver Province
 
"Just because you win a game one night doesn't mean you're happy the next day. Jim Jamieson calls from GM Place to report that Canucks practice, which is still going on, was marred by an altercation involving assistant captains Willie Mitchell and Ryan Kesler. Jamieson doesn't know what precipitated the feud, which found the Canucks' leaders nearly at blows during a five-on-five situation, and having to be separated by their teammates."
Ryan Kesler, Willie Mitchell battle in practice … but it's all in the family
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December 12
Vancouver Sun
 
"Despite winning the night before, the Vancouver Canucks were in a surly mood — at least two of them — at practice today. Alternate captains Willie Mitchell and Ryan Kesler nearly came to blows during a drill in which Mitchell accused Kesler of slashing him and Kesler hollered back "it's never your fault, Willie." Mitchell pushed Kesler roughly up against the sideboards before cooler heads prevailed. "It's just Ryan being Ryan, you know what I mean?" chuckled Canucks captain Roberto Luongo. "There's nothing much to it. They're very good friends." Good friends maybe, but Kesler didn't mention that when cornered for his version of events. "No comment, no comment," Kesler responded. "It's ..."
Canucks C Ryan Kesler's taking it one game at a time
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November 26
Vancouver Sun
 
"One game at a time. It's perhaps the most tired cliche in sports, but one that Vancouver Canuck centre Ryan Kesler apparently takes quite seriously. Kesler can tell you that the Canucks will meet the Los Angeles Kings tonight at General Motors Place, but after that he swears he really doesn't have a clue. "To be honest, I don't even know who we play the next game," Kesler said Wednesday. Informed that the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday and the San Jose Sharks on Sunday are Vancouver's next opponents, Kesler then said: "I know we go on a road trip (next week), but I don't know where we're playing. I know we're going out East, but that's all I know. I think we're going to New Jersey first, but ..."
Kesler never, ever takes night off
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November 5
Vancouver Province
 
"Run into Ryan Kesler off the ice and he can be brooding, deeply intense, focused and, after a loss, about as fun as a toothache. That, he said, is his pleasant side. One can only imagine what it's like to run into him on the ice. "I'm a different person on the ice," Kesler said. "I'm pretty intense. That's the way I've always approached it. Coming into the league, I knew I had to play that way. It just kind of stuck. "For me, it's fun to play like that." It definitely doesn't look fun. Not for his opponents anyway. But what is bad for them is good for Vancouver. At least until the Olympics. Mikael Samuelsson seemed to capture the city's general sentiments after Tuesday's game when, talking ..."
Kesler puts team back on track
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October 18
Vancouver Province
 
"You might have guessed that when the Vancouver Canucks needed someone to pick them up and carry them on his back, it would be Ryan Kesler. With all deference to goaltender Roberto Luongo, who made a couple of gave-saving stops in the final minute, it was Kesler who came out determined to get his team back on the right track after the embarrassment of the previous night in Calgary. Kesler scored the huge equalizing goal after the Minnesota Wild took a 1-0 lead against the run of the play and sparked a new line that is certainly one of the NHL's fastest while leading the Canucks to a 2-1 decision. "We needed to have a game like this," said Kesler, who extended his points streak to five games ..."
Grabner to skate with Kesler and Samuelsson against Ducks
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September 18
Vancouver Sun
 
"Canuck hopeful Michael Grabner, who scored 40 times in the American League last season, will skate with two NHL veterans tonight in Anaheim. The Canucks' first round pick in 2006, Grabner is slated to play left wing alongside centre Ryan Kesler and right-winger Mikael Samuelsson. This will be the Austrian's second pre-season game. He appeared in the Hockeyville game Monday in Terrace but didn't generate much on a line with Kyle Wellwood despite showing flashes of his outstanding speed. Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault also intends to deploy Grabner on the point on some power-play formations. "I enjoy it a lot on the point, it's a lot of fun back there," Grabner said at UBC today before ..."
Kesler could be next to sign contract
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September 5
Vancouver Province
 
"Next up: Ryan Kesler. With five core players now signed through the 2012-13 season, the next item on the Vancouver Canucks' agenda is re-signing Kesler, who is coming off a career year -- one that ended with him being a finalist for the Selke award. "Our intention was to begin speaking with [Kesler's agent Kurt Overhardt] once we got some other business taken care of," Canucks GM Mike Gillis said. "And now we have that business taken care of." Since Kesler was drafted, he's carried the tag of being a defensive forward. His speed, edge and tenacity combined with his lack of playmaking finesse were thought to be best suited for a checking-line role. But he evolved. And that evolution is one ..."