from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,

As a couple of front-office sources from other teams told me Thursday, it was bound to come out at some point that the Vancouver Canucks were feeling out the market on Ryan Kesler.

Secrets just don't keep in this business.

It doesn't sound as though Kesler actually made a formal trade request at any time, although it was clearly indicated a change of scenery could benefit both the player and the team; so perhaps semantics, if anything else.

The bottom line:
• A number of NHL teams have gotten calls from the Canucks on Kesler as well as vice-versa;
• The price is "significantly high," says one Western Conference source. "Really high. And I guess I can't blame them," says a different source.
• The Canucks have made it clear to other teams that they don't feel the need to move him before Wednesday's deadline, that they're more than happy to pick this up again in June if their price isn't met. Or never move him at all if their price is never met.
• Kesler is signed for two more seasons, which means if you're trading for him now, you've got three more playoffs out of the gritty, two-way star. And at $5 million a year, he's below market value.

So, yeah, the Canucks are asking teams a for a lot. As they should be.

much more (more talk about players and teams) and yes, the Wings are mentioned as being a fit for Kesler...