Ryan Kesler will undoubtedly help strengthen the Ducks down the middle.
The Vancouver Canucks have traded forward Ryan Kesler to the Anaheim Ducks, it was announced earlier today by the National Hockey League.
Here is how the trade breaks down:
To Anaheim: Center Ryan Kesler, 2015 Third Round Draft Pick
To Vancouver: Center Nick Bonino, Defenseman Luca Sbisa, the number 24 pick of the first round and a third round pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft
Kesler was rumored to have asked for a trade near the end of the 2013-14 season, he currently has two years left on his contract at five million dollars a year.
The 29-year old, Livonia, Michigan native was drafted in the first round, 23 overall, by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Kesler has played 10 seasons with Vancouver, compiling 393 points (182 goals, 211 assists) in 655 games played. He has also competed twice in the Winter Olympics, bringing home a silver medal in 2010.
The 26-year old Bonino has played in five seasons for the Ducks, but has only seen limited action until this past season. During the 2013-14 regular season he posted 22 goals and 27 assists in 77 games. Before that, the Hartford, Connecticut product had only played in 112 NHL contests.
Sbisa (shown above) and Bonino will help the Canucks in their rebuilding process.
Sbisa has played six seasons at the NHL level, but again has only seen limited action. He currently has 9 goals and 47 assists for 56 points over the 266 games played in his career. He also carries a career plus minus rating that is currently at -23.
The young defenseman was a high draft pick, 19 overall in the first round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, by the Philadelphia Flyers.
Among the draft picks picked up by the Canucks today, they also have the sixth selection in the first round as well. The Draft begins tonight (Friday) at 7 P.M. at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pa.
Kesler will likely slot into a second-line center position for the Ducks, they will likely opt to keep Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry together, which will really strengthen Anaheim down the middle.
Vancouver, who has gone into a bit of a rebuilding mode, has also been rumored to be trying to sign goaltender Ryan Miller. Bonino carries a $1.9 million cap hit for the next three seasons and Sbisa has one year remaining at close to $2.2 million. This still leaves the Canucks with around $1 million extra in cap space to work with, could this be playing into their chances at Miller? Perhaps, but they have also acquired a number of draft picks that will also assist them in the rebuilding process.
The Grinder 