Anaheim Ducks: The Triumphant Return of Ryan Kesler

Ducks Nation received a devastating blow when it was reported that Ryan Kesler could sit out the 2018-19 season with the Anaheim Ducks. Nevertheless, his swift return to the ice on Wednesday was proof that he’s back and he’s better than ever.

When the goal horn sounds at Honda Center it is normally a cause for celebration. However, it took on an even bigger meaning on Wednesday when the Anaheim Ducks scored the first goal during their game against the Arizona Coyotes.

Antti Raanta stood in the net for the desert dogs, having put on a pretty good show during their previous game against the Ducks. Six minutes into the opening period, a traffic jam of zealous skaters battled for the puck above the crease. In the middle of all the action was none other than Ryan Kesler.

Since the Anaheim Ducks acquired Kesler from Vancouver in 2014, he has been their reliable, strong-willed, defensively sound, number two center. However, things went awry at the end of the 2016-17 season. Struggling with hip pain for most of the season, it was no surprise when bone fragments were found floating around in his hip. Surgery was required, and it was reported that the center would spend the next four to five months sidelined.

Fans, as well as Kesler, were ecstatic when he dressed for his first game in over six months. After sitting out for the first 37 games of the season, Kesler made his season debut on December 27th against the Vegas Golden Knights. He went on to have a 14 point season (8g,6a) during a total of 44 games.

Despite his triumphant return, it was blatantly clear that Kesler was in a tremendous amount of pain. The center was anything but 100%, pushing himself through 48 games by skating on one hip. During the offseason, the rumor mill ran rampant with reports that RK17 would be sitting out the entire 2018-19 season.

“From what I understand, he will not be having surgery (that’s been done). Instead, he’s undergoing some aggressive rehab and treatment in an effort to improve the hip area. The team and agent are not commenting, but word is he is not interested in retiring, wants to play and is doing everything he can to get there. But it might be a situation where he sits out and tries to come back in September 2019.” -Elliotte Friedman, Sportsnet

The Sound of Silence

The silence of the offseason ensued. Tight-lipped Bob Murray made no major acquisitions during the offseason, nor did he let anything slip about the status of his number two center. Unanswered questions led to uncertainty and frustration for Ducks Nation.

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Nevertheless, the sight of Ryan Kesler on the ice during training camp sparked up hope. Yet, the suspense left everyone on edge. He was on the ice, but he was running no contact drills. This meant that he had not yet been cleared to play and there was no timetable on his imminent return.

As the pre-season and regular season commenced, it looked as though the Anaheim Ducks “shutdown line” of Andrew Cogliano, Ryan Kesler, and Jakob Silfverberg has officially been dissolved. Jakob Silfverberg had great success and on-ice chemistry with linemate and rookie, Max Comtois. However, it was obvious that the Ducks were desperately missing their defensive center.

Adam Henrique did a decent job filling in the number two spot alongside Ryan Getzlaf. However, he did not offer the same one-two punch the Ducks were used to when Getzlaf and Kesler were both playing at 100%. RG15 skated off the ice during their second game of the regular season with an injury. The Anaheim Ducks injury bug had followed them into the 2018-19 season, and they were now severely exposed down the middle.

Anaheim Ducks Last Minute Roster Changes (vs Arizona Coyotes)

For the second time in four days, the Anaheim Ducks were scheduled to face off against the Arizona Coyotes. The projected line up was released earlier in the day with Adam Henrique, Sam Steel, Isac Lundestrom, and Carter Rowney slotting in at center. Another disappointing blow, as Ryan Kesler had not yet been medically cleared to play.

Nevertheless, when Ryan Kesler skated out during warm-ups, it was confirmed that our number two center was back!

Unfortunately, the shutdown line was not reunited. Kesler played between Andrew Cogliano and Kiefer Sherwood; Jakob Silfverberg stayed on the line with Comtois and Steel. I honestly see this as a smart move on Randy Carlyle‘s part.

Then, it happened. Six minutes into the opening period, during his second shift of the night, Ryan Kesler found himself in a traffic jam near the Coyote’s net. Antti Raanta denied the puck several times. However, the Coyote’s defense was too soft on RK17. Rannta lost the puck for just a split second and Kesler dug the puck off of his pads and sunk it into the net.

The Anaheim Ducks lit up the scoreboard for the first time that night. What made it even more remarkable is that it was scored by the player no one thought would return this season. After a summer filled with rehabilitation, all of Ryan Kesler’s hard work had paid off.

Going forward, it is unknown as to how often Kesler will be in our out of the line up. Right now, the team seems to be taking things one day at a time as far as he is concerned. It is reasonable to assume he won’t push himself as hard as he did last season. However, with Ryan Getzlaf out, the return of RK17 is a breath of fresh air.

The Anaheim Ducks play the Dallas Stars and the St. Louis Blues this weekend in a back to back. Do you think Ryan Kesler will be in the line up for both games? Let us know by leaving a comment below or finding us on Facebook or Twitter.