Anaheim Ducks Should Trade For Ryan Kesler

1. Kesler is a better two-way player

Mar 6, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Vancouver Canucks center Ryan Kesler (17) checks Dallas Stars defenseman

(55) during the first period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Kesler, as we remember, was a Selke Trophy finalist three years ago as the best defensive forward in the league. The Ducks have been exposed defensively the last two years: Bryan Allen, Mark Fistric, and even Francois Beauchemin are not exactly mobile. When Allen and Fistric were paired together against the Stars in the 1st round, Dallas used their immense team speed to make them look foolish and, more often than not, take dumb penalties.

The Ducks don’t really have a great defensive centerman on the roster, and if they lose Daniel Winnik to free agency, they lack a lot of two-way players. Spezza is the superior offensive player and an amazing creator of scoring chances, but he is too similar to guys like Mathieu Perreault and Nick Bonino, who we already have on the roster. Kesler also plays tougher minutes than Spezza and starts more faceoffs in the defensive zone.