The Vancouver Canucks traded star center Ryan Kesler to the Anaheim Ducks for two players and two draft picks in the 2014 draft.
General manager Jim Benning traded Kesler for center Nick Bonino, defenseman Luca Sbisa, and the 24 and the 85 pick of the 2014 draft, according to NHL.
Kesler, who had a no-trade clause, wanted to go to either the Ducks or the Chicago Blackhawks, because he wants to help a team win the Stanley Cup.
“I’m turning 30 [on Aug. 31] and not only do I want to win the Stanley Cup, I want to be a big part of winning the Stanley Cup,” Kesler said. “I’m not getting any younger. I want to win a championship. With the direction [Vancouver] is going, I think us and management just made a decision that it was time to move on.”
Benning said he did not want to have deal with another Roberto Loungo type saga with Kesler.
“[Ryan] just felt he needed a fresh start, and quite frankly we don’t want somebody that doesn’t want to be here,” he said.
Nick Bonino scored 22 goals and added 27 assists in 77 games last season for the Ducks and he has played his entire career in Anaheim, according to Yahoo Sports.
Luca Sbisa, a former first round pick by the Philadelphia Flyers, had six points in 30 games for the Ducks last season.
According to the NHL, the Canucks took Jared McCann with the 24 pick in the draft yesterday.