‘I’d love to retire a Canuck’: Ryan Kesler talks possibility of going into Ring of Honour
By Jagraj Lalli
5 days ago“It’s home,” said Ryan Kesler as he reminisced about his time playing in the city of Vancouver.
Kesler, a former two-time NHL All-Star and recipient of the 2011 Selke Trophy, recently joined Matt Sekeres and Blake Price of Sekeres and Price for a discussion about various aspects of his post-playing days and reflections on his time in the NHL. Among the topics covered were his thoughts on potentially coaching after retirement and the possibility of being inducted into the Ring of Honour at Rogers Arena.
He also talked about the unforgettable 2011 playoff run, recalling the electric atmosphere in Vancouver during that time. Specifically, he remembered the unity and camaraderie within the team, discussing the large contributions from various players that propelled the Canucks forward in the playoffs.
“You know, it was like you said, it was probably the best hockey I’ve ever played. And I was just really enjoying the game. And, you know, we had such a close team and to get past that second round was huge. You know, I had success on the scoresheet, but, you know, we had so many players play a huge role in that series, you know, especially, you know, talk about that series. But the series before with (Burrows) scoring that huge goal, you know, kind of set it up. And I always say I didn’t score up until that point and Ehrhoff set me up beautifully in the crease and it was a tap in. And ever since that kind of took off.”
Giving his thoughts about the current Canucks roster, Kesler drew parallels between his playing style and that of J.T. Miller, acknowledging Miller’s leadership and competitive edge. He expressed admiration for Miller’s passion and described him as a player he would want on his team during intense matchups.
“I think he brings that passion. I think he brings leadership. I think he’s a lot like me in that he wears that, you know, passion on his sleeve, whether it be frustration or just that competitiveness. You know, he’s a guy that I would want on my team to go into war with. You know, I think he looks like he can be grumpy at times. And that’s not a bad thing. But he’s a much better player than I was. You know, I look at his game as I can see similar days. But, you know, the way he’s playing right now, that’s yeah. The Canucks are lucky to have him.”
Talking about the possibility of being inducted into the Ring of Honour at Rogers Arena, Kesler expressed profound appreciation for his time with the Canucks, especially the significance of being recognized for his contributions to the team and the community.
“I mean, every player loves to get acknowledged, right? I would have loved to, I’m still not retired, but I’d love to, you know, retire a Canuck. And those were my best years. Those were the years that I remember and the teams and the teammates. And that’s not taking anything away from Anaheim, but just the cup run and all those great years we had the Presidents Trophy and the success and the community and everything about Vancouver. If they do choose to honor me, I would love that it kind of is a closing of that chapter in my life. And it would be awesome, you know, thinking about it gives me chills and almost tearing up a bit just thinking about it.”
Watch the full interview below!
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