In case you missed it, the language has definitely changed surrounding the Ryan Kesler situation. It now looks almost certain that he's ready for a fresh start with a new team. Elliotte Friedman mentioned this on Saturday's playoff broadcast, and boils it down here in his 30 Thoughts:
Vancouver's Ryan Kesler re-iterated his desire to be traded during a meeting with GM Jim Benning. It's a challenging spot for Benning and Trevor Linden, because this is their first big decision. In a city where the fan base created change, you have to "win" this one. The Canucks will be in better position now, as teams will have extra flexibility and potential trade partners who've lost and are more willing to alter their mix.
It's time for me to move on from my dream that something can be worked out with Kesler, but that's OK. As Friedman says, the opportunity to trade a coveted top-level player will certainly allow Linden and Benning to put their stamp on the roster. We won't be seeing the same old Canucks going forward.
Elliotte suggests that the Canucks would be willing to wait to make a deal if the right offer doesn't surface over the summer, but expects that something will get done. The Canucks benefit from the fact that the teams that were interested at the deadline all disappointed in postseason, so they should be more interested than ever in making an upgrade. The objective should be to pit them against each other and create a proper bidding war.
Ducks...Penguins...Blackhawks...we're waiting to hear from you!
I wouldn't get too hopeful about a deal with Columbus for Ryan Johansen. NHL.com reported that a new deal for the young Vancouverite is a top priority for the Blue Jackets.
The Jackets are probably regretting the loss of Derick Brassard and Derek Dorsett more than Rick Nash right about now, but they made a good showing in the first round this year and have a solid core of young players remaining to build around. Johansen will be a key part of that group—I think he'll get locked up long-term.
Alumni Watch
Willie Mitchell—what a game last night! A power-play goal, an assist on the game-winner and 34:14 of icetime at age 37.
The goal is only the second power-play goal of Mitchell's entire career. He also had one in during the 2012 Cup run. Mitchell has NEVER scored on the power play in the regular season during his 13 NHL campaigns.
As several of you mentioned in the comments yesterday, it's hard not to respect the Kings' resilient determination in these playoffs. It's making for some fantastic hockey and I think we'll continue to see the effects of this "never-say-die" approach all around the league going forward.
The entertainment value in these playoffs has been through the roof and people are noticing. I expect the final numbers will be very good for the league—though I can't imagine that they'll want this final to end in four games.
Meanwhile, another ex-Canuck, Cory Schneider, is taking a cautious approach to his next contract negotiation over in New Jersey. Schneider says he wants a guarantee that he'll get to start 60 games a season, according to NHL.com.
Can't say that I blame him. When Schneider signed his three-year deal here in the summer of 2012, he was working on the assumption that he'd be the No. 1 guy after a Roberto Luongo trade. It was said in the press, but it wasn't in writing, and it certainly didn't turn out that way.
Schneider's not a young upstart anymore. He's 28 and still hasn't had a chance to be a proper, unencumbered No. 1. He played 45 games in New Jersey last year and put up decent numbers, and Martin Brodeur has made it clear that he'll be looking for work elsewhere, so he should get his chance next year with the Devils.
I'm interested in seeing how Lou Lamoreillo responds to Schneider's bold demands. Something tells me he might not be impressed.