Kukla's Korner Hockey
Finger Now Pointing At Kesler
by Paul on 05/02/12 at 02:42 PM ET
Comments (2)
from Ben Kuzma of the Vancouver Province,
The lightning rod has shifted a few seats in the lockerroom.
Long affixed to the goaltending cranium of Roberto Luongo, his expected departure has those bolts of postseason disdain now directed at Ryan Kesler. That’s right. The Selke Trophy winning centre, who laboured through a sore hip flexor and wonky shoulder this season, is suddenly dispensable. Trade-him speculation was the flavour of the day on sports-talk radio because a stunning five-game, first-round playoff exit by the Presidents’ Trophy winners was going to put somebody in the crosshairs.
It was Kesler. From 41 goals to 22. From hero to zero in one season.
There is understandable grist for the mill when examining the manner in which Kesler applies himself. Driven to succeed yet stubborn to a fault, he returned weeks early from a July 25 hip labrum procedure and when he injured a shoulder in a mid-February collision, the goals disappeared and scrutiny of the Vancouver Canucks centre increased.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Vancouver Canucks, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: ryan+kesler
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So they went from blaming the guy who’s mentally unfit to play playoff hockey to blaming the guy who was physically unfit.
Posted by Garth on 05/02/12 at 04:53 PM ET
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When you dive and whine and partake in general douche-baggery AND put points on the board it’s forgiven. If you do those things and don’t light it up people (finally) take notice. He’s a real piece of work (always has been) and it doesn’t make me feel sad for him when others start to realize that too. I can see him wearing a sweater with a leaf on it next fall. Him and Phaneuf would make great chums.
Posted by Vladimir16 from Grand River Valley on 05/02/12 at 03:06 PM ET