Ryan Kesler on Preds vs. Canucks & 2011 series, Miller comparison, playoff hatred, Ring of Honour

Former Canucks centre Ryan Kesler flashes back to the 2011 playoff series between the Nashville Predators and Vancouver Canucks. Kes dives into the current Canucks team, including the comparisons to J.T. Miller, how the league has changed since he left, how his body is holding up in his post-career playing days and the idea of one day being inducted into the Ring of Honour.
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[@GinV74]

Let’s be honest here. Aside from the horrendous reffing in the finals, kesslers injury was one of if not the main reason we lost. 😞

[@jbainbridge22]

It's so good seeing him come back to the market place, love to see it.

[@dlofiasco]

Man this guy showing his humility and human side is awesome. Might have to rep the Stick n Rink jersey this year

[@blanewilliams5960]

We love you here in Vancouver, Ryan!

[@soullessrenegades1444]

Man, has he grown up. Love the way he talks about Vancouver. He was always one of my favorites. He always played hard and hard to play against. I really wish they would sign him to a 1 day contract to retire as a Canuck. Then Ring of Honor. He does deserve that. He left cause of the conditions that were arising. He still bled Canucks. Sign him to a contract, then retire as a Canuck in the ROH.

[@waynesoroka6084]

New found respect for Ryan. His off-ice demeanour as a player was sour and sometimes petty at times but, he was a key cog during the Canucks 'good ole' days running up to game 7, 2011. J.T. Miller redux. I think a Ring of Honor banner is warranted.

[@zizzyr3209]

I remember sitting in a local restaurant on Vancouver island in 2011 watching the Canucks throw game 7 up to the Bs. Stoked to see RK17 back at it. Love it! Congrats Kes.

[@LeonardATam]

Great to hear Kesler. I am a big fan of his

[@soullessrenegades1444]

Would be nice if the GM would see this and do the right thing. He was almost emotional when talking about wanting to retire a Canuck and if you would like to be in ROH.

[@Conqueredco]

I love u again Kes. You abandoned the beautiful orca but once a canuck always a canuck

[@tlevans62]

Kes bled for the team. His body is dealing with the scars and wounds of the years he bled for the Orca. If you want to know why NHL players get paid, it's because their bodies are broken by the time they reach thirty five. He deserves to retire a Canuck and be in the ring of honor. He's much wiser and more reflective now, aren't we all, though. Go Canucks!

[@dl95000]

Listening to the overall demeanour of this interview and dare I say, a subtle tone of repentance/humility ("young and dumb"), sounds like time for the prodigal son to return home - RK17 for ROH!

[@tlevans62]

I just want to add something based on Kessler's comments about JT Miller, which might not make sense to some people, but it has relevance, at least to me. I served in Iraq during the early 2000s, when I was on exchange. We had SF Team Sgt's like JT & Kessler, & they made the difference between a small team surviving a firefight against superior numbers, like in Falujah, just through their force of will & inspiring leadership. I'd said before, JT is the kind of guy I'd go to war with, & Kess says the same thing. These guys know that special quality of mental toughness, not backing down, & pushing through pain, adversity & the opposition, by sheer will Power, which sets some people apart as leaders. That's inspiring to those around them & is the core trait of leadership in tough times. I think the Canucks are going to surprise people by their will to win at all costs. JT is going to come out of the gate like a Man on fire, with the rest of the team close behind. It's going to be exciting stuff!

[@Xyy2387]

Great post. 100% agree. I would also put Hughes in that group, he's a baby faced assassin. Watch for guys like Soucy, Garland, and Hogs to step up.

[@riffgroove]

I bought a Kesler jersey after Ryan pretty much beat the Predators by himself back then. The Canucks scored 11 goals in that series. Kesler scored or assisted on 7 of them. When Nashville coach Barry Trotz was asked about Kesler, he said "Do I hate playing against him? In the worst possible way. Would I have him on my team? In a hot second."

[@VanMichael21]

I rmbr that year's playoffs as if it was yesterday...first finally slaying the dragon in game 7 against Chicago, Burrows catching the puck in mid air to keep the puck in play then laying a slapper past the goalie...against Nashville I just mainly rmbr Kesler being a BEAST for us in that series helping us past them in 6 games...then on to San Jose what stuck out to me the most was game 5 double OT the weird puck bounce off the stanchion and nobody knew where the puck was and it landed on Bieksa's stick pretty much just inside the neutral zone and he just slapped it in the net, their goalie and everyone else had no idea where it was and next thing they knew it was already in the net...and then ofc the inevitable battle against the big bad Bruins in the finals, with us completely choking it in game 7 with an absolute no show. Ahhh such a fond yet bittersweet memory. Hope they go all the way this year!!

[@Canuck.Collector]

i miss the kes and juice pod. always loved kes idk why everyone turned on him after he went to the ducks.

[@nwtruckerll]

I give that man second place behind Bertuzzi as the best player ever that wore a Canuck uniform.

[@register1430]

good grief your hockey skill AND CHARACTER judgement is sus. Convicted felons not in my top 10. Kessler certainly worthy of discussion.

[@nwtruckerll]

@@register1430 I'm going to take the high road and 'assume' you didn't see the actual event that he was convicted for. Watch it! If you have any hockey knowledge then comment on it.

[@register1430]

@@nwtruckerll so you need hockey "knowledge" to analyze a sucker punch? Interesting . Todd not the sharpest tool in the shed. On and OFF the ice. Ya, Ring of HONOR not happening with him.

[@nwtruckerll]

@@register1430 OK. You hsven't seen the video on it. You make a very stupid comment on a sucker punch ? No sucker punch breaks a neck. Your just sounding off. Not worth my time.

[@register1430]

@@nwtruckerll man you got some wacky logic for cause and effect. Would Moores neck have gotten broken without the sucker? (who cares about the timing!.... ) CHECK and MATE. it was low class and a straight up assault. And someone else agrees with me : "To the game of hockey and the fans of Vancouver, for the kids that watch this game, I am truly story," Bertuzzi said. "I don't play the game that way. I'm not a mean-spirited person, and I'm sorry for what happened."

[@Anfimus]

Beast

[@juniorjohnmartin]

Vancouver in 5 games. We got this. Supposively hockey guy thinks this will be a series with a lot of hits compared to most others

[@knucksandboltz9908]

The coach that probably knows there's a comparison between RYAN KESLER and JT MILLER back then before everybody else does the comparing was none other than ALAIN VIGNEAULT.

[@virtualrealitychannel2276]

Of course Miller is better on offense, but look at all the seasons Kesler made the playoffs and his success in the playoffs. It's taken Miller 30 years to get his defensive game near to on par with Kesler and it's taken this long for him to lead the team to the (real) playoffs. This season Miller's "team game" has leveled up whereas Kesler was born with team spirit.

[@DkDerek]

2011 Kesler was a way better player than JT miller, period. Selke trophy, and top 15 in points playing on the second line.

[@LivingInElysium]

Tell Kelly I say hi!

[@jonathanstone3956]

We'll take him back, but only after he sits and watches luca sbisa and nick bonino lowlights everyday for 2 years

[@TR-lt4xc]

Art Ross Killers.. are we even adding the nonsequitars or whatever Kappa.

[@canadiantraveller281]

Bid difference between age 25 and 40 , you are a totally different person, or should be : look at what a little deuche Pat Kane used to be...no longer 👍

[@nameless_no_name]

Sekeres..... dude... go back into radio or lose some weight dude Anyways.... nice to hear from Captain Silver again

[@queretaromexico]

If it was so good Kes why did you bail

[@thedingbatdingers4326]

because in the heat of the moment, you smell your own shit too much. Nobody ever realizes how good they have it until they let it go, but sounds like the Ryan Kesler we knew all those years died in round 3 against the San Jose sharks.

[@dragon-ir8te]

Because the core had aged out and window for the cup closed. That's when they should have started a rebuild