Ryan Kesler to be deciding factor for Vancouver Canucks -NHL Update
There are few players who can lead a team like Ryan Kesler and still stay under the radar as the American All-Star centre player for Vancouver Canucks has been the deciding factor for Vancouver Canucks and continues to be so.
Last season, fans witnessed that without Ryan Kesler, Vancouver Canucks were unable to get even past the opening round of the 2012 National Hockey League (NHL) Stanley Cup Finals and were ousted by Los Angeles Kings despite winning the President’s Trophy.
Now with the latest announcement, by agent Kurt Overhardt, of his return in the NHL being delayed until sometime in December of this year due to his shoulder and wrist injuries, Vancouver fans are probably hoping a lockout comes into play and does not end
till Kesler is ready to go.
From the time he had shoulder surgery, which was back in early May, Kesler should have been ready in November, but doctors have termed the need for a seventh month in order to ensure an effective recovery.
“It’s not happening,” Overhardt said, according to The Province. “He’s not ahead of schedule and there’s no rushing him back. He’s on course to return in December and he’s not returning until he’s 100 per cent. Don’t expect him until December.”
One thing that will affect the player in a negative way coming from his injuries is being back tracked as the team has already moved on into the season.
"When you miss training camp you're really behind. It's difficult to get going in season and it often takes some time," Gillis said. "There is a build-up that happens in training camp.”
Kesler, a former 23rd overall pick back in round-one of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, played in 77 games last season and put up 49 points (22 goals, 27 assists). He barely managed to appear in five games with Vancouver during the postseason for three
assists.
Being a player that easily gets 70-plus points a season, Kesler was really down this past hockey year. Next year will definitely be a test for the American-born player as Vancouver looks to him to answer their problems on the offence.
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