Tweet
Anaheim Ducks, Ryan Kesler agree to 6-year, $41M extension
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Center Ryan Kesler has agreed to a six-year, $41.25 million contract extension with the Ducks, the team announced Wednesday.
"It proved to me the owners and management want to win," told reporters during a conference call Wednesday. "To be honest, they didn't have to prove that to me. Just knowing them and talking to them at the end of this year, and talking to them a bit in the summer, the way the season ended left a sour taste in our mouths.
"We all thought we deserved better. We want to win the Stanley Cup. Our team is young, and we have some really good pieces. We just need to put them all together. I'm just excited to be part of this group going forward."
Kesler had 20 goals, 27 assists and 75 penalty minutes last season in his first year with Anaheim after nine seasons with the Vancouver Canucks. The American veteran filled a key role as the Ducks' second-line center while matching up against most teams' top line.
"They wanted me and I wanted to stay," Kesler said. "It's a great organization, great owners, great management that wants to win, great coaches, great trainers. To be a part of this organization for six more years, it's a good feeling. My family and I are very happy."
Kesler also had seven goals and six assists in a standout playoff effort for the three-time Pacific Division champion Ducks, who fell one game short of the Stanley Cup finals.
He has one year left on his current contract. His new deal has an average annual value of $6.875 million and extends through the 2021-22 season, when he will be 37 years old.
"This isn't my last contract. I want another one after this," Kesler said. "Right now, I'm sitting here saying I won't be done. My family supports that, and they know. When that time comes, I'll be ready to retire, but right now I'm fully confident I can play out this contract and get another one after."
"It proved to me the owners and management want to win," told reporters during a conference call Wednesday. "To be honest, they didn't have to prove that to me. Just knowing them and talking to them at the end of this year, and talking to them a bit in the summer, the way the season ended left a sour taste in our mouths.
"We all thought we deserved better. We want to win the Stanley Cup. Our team is young, and we have some really good pieces. We just need to put them all together. I'm just excited to be part of this group going forward."
Kesler had 20 goals, 27 assists and 75 penalty minutes last season in his first year with Anaheim after nine seasons with the Vancouver Canucks. The American veteran filled a key role as the Ducks' second-line center while matching up against most teams' top line.
"They wanted me and I wanted to stay," Kesler said. "It's a great organization, great owners, great management that wants to win, great coaches, great trainers. To be a part of this organization for six more years, it's a good feeling. My family and I are very happy."
Kesler also had seven goals and six assists in a standout playoff effort for the three-time Pacific Division champion Ducks, who fell one game short of the Stanley Cup finals.
He has one year left on his current contract. His new deal has an average annual value of $6.875 million and extends through the 2021-22 season, when he will be 37 years old.
"This isn't my last contract. I want another one after this," Kesler said. "Right now, I'm sitting here saying I won't be done. My family supports that, and they know. When that time comes, I'll be ready to retire, but right now I'm fully confident I can play out this contract and get another one after."