Ryan Kesler- " I left to win a cup... I honestly regret that now" Kesler on demanding a trade out of Van

[UrbanImpact]

We always complain that hockey players are too Vanilla and never reveal anything which is why this interview of Kesler was very refreshing.

Its not often that Hockey players or pro athletes will admit to making a mistake in their playing career, especially when it comes to demanding a trade out of a city.

Kesler says he regrets demanding a trade out of Vancouver to go chase a cup, and that he would love nothing more than to sign a 1 day contract and retire as a Canuck.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1856759836844957797

Click to read more...

 

[895]

I mean he didn’t end up winning a cup in Anaheim so of course he regrets it.

Would he still regret if they won?

Kind of a nothing statement tbh

 

[Empoleon8771]

If he would have won a cup, he wouldn't have regretted it

It's a "since I didn't win anyway, I would have preferred to stay" thought. He'd pick not winning in Vancouver over not winning anywhere else, but he at the time left Vancouver because he wanted to win.

Hilariously he blocked a trade to the Penguins at the 2014 deadline and the Penguins ended up winning 2 cups shortly after. Granted I don't know if that would have happened had the Kesler trade actually happened, they almost certainly couldn't have acquired Kessel had they traded for Kesler.

 

[Iggys Dome]

He made it to the conference finals twice with the Ducks. They choked really hard in 2015 IMO, the Canucks were on the downswing by that time anyways.

 

[UrbanImpact]

I mean he didn’t end up winning a cup in Anaheim so of course he regrets it.

Would he still regret if they won?

Kind of a nothing statement tbh

Cup or not , you dont hear athletes walk back their decisions publicly and admit they made a mistake.

 

[ponder]

As a basically Nucks fan living in Vancouver (grew up in Toronto, Leafs fan first, but lived in Van the past 20 years and they're my 2nd fave team), this is nothing new, he's expressed regret about forcing his way off the team/how he handled it a number of times. Nucks fans hated Kesler for quite awhile after he forced a trade, but between him apologizing/expressing regret, and Bieksa speaking up for him a bunch, I think most Nucks fans are past the hate and back to liking him.

For example, he got tonnes of cheers and love at the Nucks game last night: https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/kesler-slams-beer-canucks-game

IMO the only ex-Nuck who is still particularly hated by Nucks fans is Messier.

 

[GeeoffBrown]

I suppose too Kesler is a player whose career ended due to injuries. Who knows how that plays out if he stays in The Couv.

 

[StreetHawk]

I mean he didn’t end up winning a cup in Anaheim so of course he regrets it.

Would he still regret if they won?

Kind of a nothing statement tbh

What would being on the Canucks from 2014 onwards have gotten Kesler? Canucks were due for a big drop. No influx of new talent.

Unless he thought the Canucks med staff would have shut him down and prevented him from destroying his body to play through whatever he did which shortened his career.

IMO he was right to ask out. Based on the direction of the team.

 

[Coffee]

Respect

 

[Chuck Norris Trophy]

Hilariously he blocked a trade to the Penguins at the 2014 deadline and the Penguins ended up winning 2 cups shortly after. Granted I don't know if that would have happened had the Kesler trade actually happened, they almost certainly couldn't have acquired Kessel had they traded for Kesler.

We shall never know, but Kessel was so essential on those two cup runs that I think it was for the best.

 

[TheBeard]

I mean he didn’t end up winning a cup in Anaheim so of course he regrets it.

Would he still regret if they won?

Kind of a nothing statement tbh

I think his point is in hindsight if he wasn’t gonna win a cup anyways he’d have rather stayed in Vancouver. He acknowledged why he asked for a trade. He loved Vancouver but wanted a chance to win. Don’t blame him in any way.

 

[Pure West]

I honestly don't blame him one bit for trying to force his way onto a contender back in 2014. We were an absolute mess post 2013 and he still had a few good years in him to try and win a cup. He could have chased the money after his selke calibre years but he signed a sweetheart deal with us while we were contenders. He was a freaking warrior for us and put his body through the ringer too.

I find it really amazing how many Swedes and Americans really love/loved playing in Vancouver. And how few Canadians seem to like it.

 

[Three On Zero]

Respect

No no, he said “regret” not “respect”

I honestly don't blame him one bit for trying to force his way onto a contender back in 2014. We were an absolute mess post 2013 and he still had a few good years in him to try and win a cup. He could have chased the money after his selke calibre years but he signed a sweetheart deal with us while we were contenders. He was a freaking warrior for us and put his body through the ringer too.

I find it really amazing how many Swedes and Americans really love/loved playing in Vancouver. And how few Canadians seem to like it.

Can’t fault a guy for trying, he gave his heart and soul to Vancouver and the writing was on the wall that they were not a competitive team anymore.

 

[PavelBure10]

Apology or not, love Kelser and would love if he signed a one day contract to retire a Canuck.

 

[SEALBound]

I don't think Vancouver was in a position to win the cup anyway after he went to Anaheim. Not like his odds of winning a cup improved had he stayed.

It's tough to win a cup. Not every does. That's why it's special when you do.

 

[cc]

I don't mind the player or blame him for chasing the cup. the problem was that he ended up handcuffing the team by limiting the trade destinations as is his right to do. However, it just made it harder to move him for a decent return so I can also understand if the organization is a little sore about this point.

 

[StreetHawk]

I honestly don't blame him one bit for trying to force his way onto a contender back in 2014. We were an absolute mess post 2013 and he still had a few good years in him to try and win a cup. He could have chased the money after his selke calibre years but he signed a sweetheart deal with us while we were contenders. He was a freaking warrior for us and put his body through the ringer too.

I find it really amazing how many Swedes and Americans really love/loved playing in Vancouver. And how few Canadians seem to like it.

Probably for non Canadians they can get a break on the taxes that Canadians don’t get.

To each their own.

 

[Pure West]

I don't mind the player or blame him for chasing the cup. the problem was that he ended up handcuffing the team by limiting the trade destinations as is his right to do. However, it just made it harder to move him for a decent return so I can also understand if the organization is a little sore about this point.

If he had squeezed every last dollar out of us in contract negotiations, sure. But if he gives us a big discount like he did, part of the deal is his NMC where he can control the process. His sweetheart deal allowed us to field those kickass teams in 2009-2012

 

[PaulD]

I mean he didn’t end up winning a cup in Anaheim so of course he regrets it.

Would he still regret if they won?

Kind of a nothing statement tbh

Kesler has always been an attention seeker.
Didn't win a cup on either of his team's.
Who cares which one he regrets NOT winning with more.

 

[Grifter3511]

Kesler has always been an attention seeker.
Didn't win a cup on either of his team's.
Who cares which one he regrets NOT winning with more.

You're calling THIS man an attention seeker?

You're crazy.

 

[cc]

If he had squeezed every last dollar out of us in contract negotiations, sure. But if he gives us a big discount like he did, part of the deal is his NMC where he can control the process. His sweetheart deal allowed us to field those kickass teams in 2009-2012

I'm just saying if he had cared about the Canucks team in any way at that time, he wouldn't have handcuffed the org that way. That being said, I still appreciated what he did for the team. He was a heart and soul guy that gave a lot when he was there and his past sacrifices shouldn't be dismissed or diminished.

 

[Coffee]

No no, he said “regret” not “respect”

I’m on vacation, let me drink in peace

 

[Three On Zero]

I’m on vacation, let me drink in peace

Take one step………. And enjoy your drinkcation

 

[Coffee]

Take one step………. And enjoy your drinkcation

Lool, cheers my friend

 

[StreetHawk]

I'm just saying if he had cared about the Canucks team in any way at that time, he wouldn't have handcuffed the org that way. That being said, I still appreciated what he did for the team. He was a heart and soul guy that gave a lot when he was there and his past sacrifices shouldn't be dismissed or diminished.

He took a discount on his contract and got a nmc for it. So no issues with him using it.

Went to the final 4 twice with Ana. We’re up 3-2 vs Chi but didn’t close it out.

Could have take. The Pitt trade but decided not to. Would have returned basically the same thing. Sutter over binino whom the Canucks got later. Pouliot over scisba and pouliot they did get later too. First was within a couple of picks of what they got from Ana in 2014.