Ryan Kesler talks about his upcoming season

Livonia native Ryan Kesler (left) skating at Joe Louis Arena last season. (Michael Caples/MiHockey)

 

By Stefan Kubus –

Plagued with hip, shoulder, wrist and foot injuries over the past two seasons, a healthy Ryan Kesler is preparing for the start of a regular NHL season, not with rehabilitation.

And you can bet there’s nobody more ready to see the Vancouver Canucks forward back on the ice than the Livonia native himself.

“The last two summers have been horrendous with the rehab and everything else that goes along with being hurt,” Kesler said.

The 29-year-old last suited up in all 82 regular season games during the 2010-11 campaign, a year that saw him record a career-high 41 goals and a plus-24 rating en route to the Frank J. Selke Trophy (Best Defensive Forward).

The lockout-shortened 2012-13 season provided more trouble for Kesler, after a routine shot block resulted in a broken right foot.

“It’ll be a little different playing more than 17 games or however many I played,” Kesler said with a bittersweet laugh. “It’s going to be good to get a training camp in here.”

(Michael Caples/MiHockey)

 

Kesler did indeed only appear in 17 contests with the Canucks last season, tallying four goals and nine assists in that span.

There couldn’t be a better time for everything to fall into place for Kesler – entering his tenth NHL season – as 2013-14 holds a lot of opportunity.

In Vancouver, there’s a lot of questions as to how this season will pan out with all the change. The dramatic goaltending saga between Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider has seemingly come to an end, with Schneider having been dealt to New Jersey at the NHL Entry Draft in late June. Vancouver and New York swapped coaches, as Alain Vigneault is out after seven seasons with the Canucks, and John Tortorella is in after five seasons behind the Rangers’ bench.

On top of that, Kesler needs to prove he’s a healthy, powerful option for GM David Poile and the rest of the Team USA brass with the Winter Olympics coming in February.

However, the former Honeybaked standout said he’s simply focused on improving one day at a time.

“It’s just good having a routine and really just being able to focus on getting better.”