Trade Trees: Ryan Kesler to Anaheim Ducks

During his time with the Vancouver Canucks, Ryan Kesler was a fan favourite who always played on the edge. He was a massive part of the Canucks run to the Stanley Cup final in 2011, and was a consistent 40+ point scorer. That being said, all good things must come to an end. In 2014, Canucks fans learned that the hard way.



On June 27th 2014, the Vancouver Canucks sent Ryan Kesler and a 3rd round pick in 2015 (Deven Sideroff) to the Anaheim ducks in exchange for Nick Bonino, Luca Sbisa, a 1st round pick in 2014 (Jared McCann), and a 3rd round pick in 2014.

Looking at the package received by Vancouver, the biggest piece would be Nick Bonino coming off of a 22 goal, 49 point season with Anaheim. However Bonino only lasted one season with Vancouver (75 GP, 15G, 24A) before being dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins along with Adam Clendening and a 2nd round pick in 2016 (Filip Gustavsson) in exchange for Brandon Sutter and a 3rd round pick in 2016. Sutter remains with the Canucks today (124GP, 24G, 25A), though he has yet to produce at a top-6 rate.

The 2nd big player acquired by Vancouver was defenceman Luca Sbisa. Sbisa was an average defenceman at best, and after spending 3 seasons with the team (199GP, 7G, 25A), he was quickly portrayed as an overpaid, garbage player. Thankfully, he was claimed off the Canucks by Vegas at the expansion draft, so the fans could calm down.

Next up was a 2014 1st round pick, which the Canucks turned into young center Jared McCann. While not a game changer, McCann has seemed decent enough during his time in the NHL(69GP, 9G, 9A in 1 season with Vancouver), especially considering he is only 21 years old. However McCann was traded away in 2016 along with a 2016 2nd round pick in exchange for Erik Gudbranson and a 5th round pick. Gudbranson is a decent defensive defenceman, but also not a game changer.

Lastly, the Canucks acquire a 3rd round pick in 2014, which the Canucks sent over to the New York Rangers in exchange for Derek Dorsett. Dorsett spent 4 years with the Canucks (184GP, 20G, 34A), filling his role as best as he can, before being forced to retire due to a recurring injury.

Onto the Anaheim Ducks. The Ducks acquired a 2015 3rd round pick, which Anaheim turned into Deven Sideroff. Sideroff has yet to make his NHL debut, but the 20-year old does still have time to make an impact at the NHL level.

Finally, the Ducks receive Ryan Kesler. A solid center who has collected 161 points in 248 games. He has helped solidify the Ducks offence, and give a solid 2nd line center to the team.

It's fairly simple to give the win to Anaheim in this trade. When you see what pieces remain on either team, the Canucks lost Sbisa for nothing, McCann and Bonino were both traded away soon after they joined the team, and the 3rd round pick was traded for Dorsett, who was forced to retire. In contrast, Kesler is still playing solid hockey with Anaheim, and Deven Sideroff still has the potential to make the NHL.

Which trade should we break down next? Comment below.