Vancouver Canucks player Ryan Kesler did not play against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday night because of a hand injury he sustained during the Olympics.
“He’s out, and day-to-day,” said Canucks coach John Tortorella. And that’s all he would say.
There was a rumour going around Wednesday night that Kesler asked the Canucks for a trade at the beginning of the regular season, but Kesler denies that is true.
Global BC sports anchor Squire Barnes said the Vancouver Canucks are not actively contacting other teams asking about Kesler, but reports are the Canucks are getting calls from other teams about him, and they are listening.
If the price is right, they could then approach Kesler to ask him what he thinks. Kesler does have a no-trade clause in his contract so he can refuse whatever he wants.
On Thursday Kesler told media:
“Guys I don’t want to talk about this after today,” he said. “And I don’t want my teammates to talk about this. I don’t want you to ask them. I don’t want to be a distraction.”
“I never commented to anybody that I wanted out.”
Kesler said the rumours are probably coming from the Canucks’ seven-game losing streak.
Roberto Luongo said his teammate needs to just focus on the game and block everything else out.
“Whether he wants to go or stay, he’s not going anywhere,” said Luongo.
Kesler hopes to play Friday night after missing Wednesday’s game.
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