How agreeing to coach proved cathartic for Ryan Kesler: ‘It probably saved me’

VANCOUVER, BC – Ryan Kesler didn’t want to coach, but it became a lifeline to peace and giving back.

The former dominant Vancouver Canuckscentre was in a dark place when forced to leave the NHL in 2019 because of a plethora of pains and medical procedures.

His hips were a mess. He could barely walk. He was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. He didn’t know what was next.

“It was a bad spot, and quality of life wasn’t there,” Kesler admitted this week in a wide-ranging interview.