Whether he likes it or not, Ryan Kesler will always be linked to the Philadelphia Flyers.
That’s just the way it goes when your club has to pay you double what it was going to because of an offer sheet from another. As the Canucks did prior to last season, thanks to Bobby Clark.
There was great debate over Nonis matching the offer last year, and really, the debate must continue.
Was Kesler worth $1.9 million last season? No. And the Canucks knew it. But they were forced into action, and didn’t want to give up on a highly touted prospect.
Now it's time for Kesler to pay them back. This summer the Canucks ponied up $5.25 million over three years for the former first-round pick, and he has to prove he's worth it -- with points.
No one doubts Kesler's work ethic, or his desire to mix it up and compete. And by all accounts, he's a real pain in the ass to play against. But $1.75-million per should get you more than that.
Kesler proved he could score in the minors (30 goals with the Moose during the lockout year). Now he must show he can create offence at the highest level.
"...That’s just the way it goes when your club has to pay you double what it was going to because of an offer sheet from another. ..."
Really? Because out on the coast here, the only time we think of the Leafs is when we need a good laugh, not to think about the offer sheet the Canucks matched for Ohlund.
I don't see what the cause for immediate concern is - there are players on every team in the league who are in Kesler's position, rookie and veteran alike who probably weren't worth the overpaid contracts they were given and have to prove themselves. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.
And on the other end of the spectrum, you have players making chump change that make the biggest difference in the world. See Hasek in the past couple years. His contract is a mindboggling steal for what he's given in return and Detroit's laughing all the way to the bank AND the playoffs.
Tis the nature of the game to take risks.
There is an E in Clarke.
You're right he's a good player but he needs better numbers. He has the skill...
Kessler could do nothing and be a better value than Naslund or Morrison. How about som payback from those two?
Nice timing ! Kes will be in the headlines for a while now is that good enough for you ?
I'm sick of seeing deals like this. Guess who gets to help pay for that $1.75M? That's right, us ticketholders. It'll be fun to watch Kesler rack up 6 goals again this uear. I would rather it went out to a Briere, Comrie or even a Roenick!
So Nonis matched the offer to protect his emerging talent in Kessler. As it was an offer sheet, they could have said no and let him walk. Yet somehow it is now Kessler's responsibility to produce numbers? Just because someone decides to pay a player more than he is worth just to keep him does not, in my opinion, put the burden on the player to achieve a certain goal. If they had negotiated a contract with Kessler with built in production targets that is one thing. To stand up to Bobby Clarke and then point at Kessler and say "Go score" must be another.
It was soooo disappointing when we matched that offer. It would have been another nail in Clarke’s coffin. He is way overpaid.