Kesler Re - signed

Vancouver, B.C. - Vancouver Canucks Senior Vice-President and General Manager Dave Nonis announced today that the Canucks have re-signed centre Ryan Kesler to a three year deal. In keeping with club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Kesler, 22, appeared in 48 games for the Canucks last season, recording 16 points (6-10-16) and 40 penalty minutes. He missed the last 34 games of the regular season due to a hip injury.

The former first round draft pick made his NHL Playoff debut in Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarter-Final series against the Dallas Stars on April 11, 2007, registering two shots and logging 27:51 of ice-time before suffering a season-ending hand injury. In 158 career games with the Canucks, Kesler has tallied 18 goals, 26 assists (18-26-44) and 135 penalty minutes.

The 6-foot-2, 205 pound native of Livonia, Michigan has experienced success on the international stage, most recently playing for Team USA at the 2006 IIHF World Hockey Championships in Latvia. Kesler scored the game-tying goal in the Final at the 2004 World Junior Hockey Championship in Helsinki to help win the gold medal for the U.S. He was also a member of the 2002 squad that captured the IIHF World Under-18 Championship. Kesler received the Best Player Award at the conclusion of the tournament.

Kesler was selected in the first round, 23rd overall by the Canucks in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.