Ducks 2017-18 Player Review - Ryan Kesler

With the upcoming season roughly two months away, AnaheimDucks.com is featuring a different Ducks player throughout the month of August (in numerical order). This annual Player Review series will highlight key stats while also keeping an eye on the 2018-19 campaign. Next up is Ryan Kesler.

Last season proved Ryan Kesler remains among the toughest competitors in the National Hockey League.
The news of a second hip procedure came after the team's run to the Western Conference Final in 2017. His season: 22 goals, 32 assists, and another eight points over the course of the playoff run. He also appeared in all 82 games, the first time since 2010-11 he did not miss a game.
Kesler probably deserved the Selke Trophy, but finished a runner-up.
Throughout the summer, and into training camp, the team preached patience with Kesler's recovery.
"As of right now, there is no timeline whatsoever,"
Murray said when his team returned for training camp
. "He couldn't skate during the second half of the season]. No push-off on his right leg. He has to rebuild his glutes and quads. That's what we're in the process of doing right now. I'm hopeful to have him back before Christmas, but that's all I'm going to say right now. You know how Kes is. He's pushing it pretty good."
Few could return from this. Kesler did.
The center returned to action against the Golden Knights at Honda Center on December 27, taking his normal spot in the lineup. And though the team lost, it signaled a return to the hard-nosed, physical style Kesler brings to the ice.
"It felt good. A little rusty,"
[Kesler said after his season debut
. "I said my reads were probably going to be a little off, and they were. As the game went on, I settled in. It was nice to get Silvy Silfverberg] and Cogs [Andrew Cogliano] back together. After that, I thought we put together a couple good shifts."
Working with doctors, physical therapists and team staff in Orange County and abroad, he skated in 44 games, putting up eight goals and 14 points. Seven of those eight goals came in the third period, with two game-winners in the mix.
The more important stat: With Kesler in the lineup, the Ducks went 27-12-5 as they completed a second-half surge to finish second in the Pacific Division.
The season came with its challenges, which Kesler discussed during his exit interview following the team's First Round loss to the rival San Jose Sharks.
"I cut 20 pounds before playoffs just to get a little extra pop in my step, and I thought it helped tremendously,"
[he said
. "You do it smartly, and you do it over a period of time, it helps. It wasn't like I stopped eating, but I was doing the work at home and off the ice that no one else sees, and it fell off pretty easily. I'll probably play at this weight next year."
In the span of a few questions, Kesler reverted back to his normal self, already looking ahead to his season prep.
"I really couldn't squat last summer or even leading up to coming back. I couldn't really build up any leg strength off the ice," he said. "I'm looking forward to that. I'm gonna work with Fitzy [Ducks Strength & Conditioning Coach Mark Fitzgerald] until I end up moving back to Michigan for the summer. We have a good plan set in place. The guys I work with are very smart people, and we're going to attack this thing and get me back to where I should be."
HIGHLIGHT
Affectionately nicknamed "King Slayer," the grizzled center seems to bring his best against the team's biggest rival. In a January 19 game at Honda Center, he delivered another important goal.

OUTLOOK
The offseason picture remains cloudy for Kesler. As he admitted during his exit interview, he didn't play near 100% last season. The amount of work he put in on a daily basis to just suit up was remarkable, and we saw his warrior mentality on a nightly basis.
How will an offseason without surgery - and playing at a lower weight - help Kesler improve? As he moves further away from his surgery, there's hope he will continue to show progress. As with any major medical procedure, decisions will come from the athlete, team staff and the doctors and physicians most involved with his case.
Kesler's snarl and toughness are attributes he'll never lose. The hope is his health allows him to return to the Selke-caliber center the Ducks - and opponents - are used to seeing on a nightly basis.