Will he or won't he? That seems to be the question surrounding Vancouver Canucks center Ryan Kesler. Earlier in the week, the NHL trade deadline got a little more interesting after reports surfaced that Kesler was requesting a trade for the Western Conference team. While the Canucks and The center's agent are denying the idea, several teams are expressing interest if he becomes available before the deadline.
TVA reporter Louis Jean stands by his story that Kesler requested a trade from Vancouver despite general manager Mike Gillis denying the notion. There has been a growing gap between the veterans on Vancouver and the youth on the team. Jean believes that everyone outside the Sedin twins is available for dealing. Kesler's agent refuted the report saying his client was happy a Canuck and the report was "BS."
However, teams are interested. SportsNet reporter Nick Kypreos is reporting that the Detroit Red Wings have expressed interest in Kelser and could convince the center to waive his no-trade clause currently in his contract. The Red Wings have a stash of young players that could interest the Canucks and use Kesler to fill the holes left by recent injuries.
The issue is that Kesler is not approaching free agency. Any team looking to make a trade will have to be willing to take on a deal that does not expire for another season. However, the Red Wings are looking to go all-in for a Stanley Cup and acquiring Kelser would certainly push the team up the rankings. he will not come cheap so the team must determine just how committed they are.
The demand for Kesler is high. Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Post-Tribune reports the Penguins have also made an offer on the center. Pittsburgh has been struggling with scoring depth outside of players named Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, forcing them to consider moves. Kesler would certainly fill the void. He currently leads Vancouver with 20 goals. Pittsburgh had the most success when it was using three top centers in their lineup. The team would like to get back to that.
This all hinges on whether or not Kelser is actually available. The center injured his hand during the Sochi Winter Olympics and might not be able to play for awhile. That could have a big impact on trade interest and his price tag moving forward.
