Tuesday night was a memorable one at Rogers Arena. The Vancouver Canucks triumphed over the Calgary Flames with a 3-1 victory, but it wasn’t just the win that electrified the fans. Former Canuck Ryan Kesler made a surprise appearance, amping up the crowd by chugging a beer when shown on the jumbotron, which sparked an enthusiastic “Ryan Kesler” chant throughout the arena.
The morning after, Kesler joined Rick Dhaliwal and Don Taylor of Donnie and Dhali — The Team and shared his feelings about his career’s end in Vancouver, reflecting on how much things have changed and expressed his hope to officially retire in a Canucks uniform.
“I would love that,” Kesler said. “My heart is definitely still here in the city. Now that I’m retired, looking back on it, I left to win a Cup, and I can honestly say I regret that decision now.”
Kesler has been a polarizing figure in Vancouver since his 2014 trade to Anaheim. His departure was primarily driven by his ambition to chase a Stanley Cup, though plenty of rumours have suggested there was more to the story. The years following the 2011 Cup run were challenging for both the players and the Canucks’ fan base, with speculation that Kesler’s relationships with teammates may have also contributed to the trade. As the media scrutiny intensified around Kesler and his family, he ultimately felt leaving was the right choice.
“People make mistakes,” Kesler acknowledged. “The Canucks are very near and dear to my heart. I’d love to retire a Canuck one day.”
The enthusiastic crowd reaction at Rogers Arena is a testament to how time can mend old wounds. While some fans in Vancouver may still have mixed feelings about the former two-time All-Star, Kesler’s efforts to reconnect with the fan base and make amends are gradually winning people over.
Kesler played a pivotal role on one of the most successful Canucks teams in franchise history, helping lead the team to Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals against the Boston Bruins. His most unforgettable moments in a Canucks jersey came during the second round of that same playoff run when he delivered an extraordinary performance, tallying five goals and six assists in just six games against the Nashville Predators.
In his 10 seasons as a Canuck, Kesler recorded 182 goals and 393 points in 655 games. He added another 76 goals and 180 points with the Anaheim Ducks, finishing his career with totals of 258 goals, 315 assists, and 573 points over 1,001 games.
