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Ryan Kesler was set to become a restricted free agent following the 2009-10 season. If one of the other 29 general managers in the NHL was planning on taking a run at the gritty two-way center in the offseason, they're likely disappointed right now, as the 25-year-old Kesler inked a six-year contract extension Friday morning.The deal is reportedly worth $30 million, which is a cap hit of $5 million per season.
The No. 23 overall pick in the incredibly deep 2003 draft, Kesler has developed into one of the top defensive forwards in the NHL -- he was a finalist for the Selke Trophy last season -- and has seen his offensive game steadily improve each season. Over the past four years he's gone from .33 points per game, to .46, to .72 to the .93 mark he's averaged this season.
With still 11 games to play for the division-leading Canucks, Kesler has already set career highs in assists and points, and is just five goals short of his personal best of 26 from a season ago.
The offense, combined with his stellar defensive game, makes him an extremely valuable asset to any team.
With Kesler now signed through the 2015-16 campaign, the Canucks now have their four most important players -- Kesler, Henrik and Daniel Sedin and Roberto Luongo -- all locked up through at least the end of the 2014 season (and in the case of Luongo and Kesler, beyond).
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