Ryan Kesler latest Canucks alumni to express interest in retiring with Vancouver

Former Vancouver Canucks forward Ryan Kesler has, almost certainly, played his last NHL game.

At age 37, he hasn’t suited up since the 2018-19 season with the Anaheim Ducks, where he put up only eight points in 60 games.

Kesler’s last contract, a six-year deal with a $6.8 million AAV, expired after the 2021-22 season.

But like many ex-players, Kesler never actually officially signed his retirement papers with the NHL, meaning he’s still technically a free agent.

While Kesler (who has dealt with a series of hip injuries) admitted last fall that his career was over, he’s free to still explore his retirement options.

And according to Kesler himself on a recent Instagram comment on a highlight reel of his, well, he’d be happy to do so as a member of the Canucks on a one-day contract.

“Call the Canucks… Let’s go!!!” Kesler emphatically replied to user @distorted.realitea when asked to sign the one-day deal with Vancouver.

Looks like Kesler’s down to sign a one-day contract with the #Canucks… pic.twitter.com/i4eQhkwtvw

— Rob Williams (@RobTheHockeyGuy) August 6, 2022

Over the course of ten seasons in Vancouver, Kesler had 182 goals and 211 assists in 655 games for the Canucks in his career.

In 2010-11, Kesler was named the NHL’s top defensive forward by winning the Selke Trophy, an award for which he was a top-three nominee on five separate occasions.

If he does go through with it, Kesler could follow in the footsteps of Kevin Bieksa, who said he’d be interested in signing a one-day with the Canucks to retire. Why not do them the same day?

Hell, give them a few shifts in a preseason game if they’re really interested (and the Canucks roster is mostly set by that point). Let’s get weird!

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