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No deal: Kesler not traded

Minnesota Wild v Vancouver Canucks

VANCOUVER, BC - FEBRUARY 28: Ryan Kesler #17 of the Vancouver Canucks is pictured while playing against the Minnesota Wild during the second period of their NHL game at Rogers Arena on February 28, 2014 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Ben Nelms/Getty Images)

Ben Nelms

Once again, it seems Mike Gillis is rolling the dice that patience will bring a better return for one of his core players. Other than sending depth defenseman Raphael Diaz to the New York Rangers for a fifth-round pick in 2015, the Vancouver Canucks didn’t make a move today, one day after Gillis dealt Roberto Luongo to the Florida Panthers in a move that did nothing to help the embattled general manager’s approval rating in the hockey-mad city.

Rumors were rampant that Kesler could be sent to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Anaheim and others. Instead, he remains with the Canucks, a team that’s becoming more and more of a long shot to make the playoffs with each additional loss.

Gillis will be criticized for wasting the value Kesler could have provided a contender this postseason. Now, the most the Canucks can guarantee a potential trade partner is two playoff runs with the 29-year-old former Selke Trophy winner, not three.

It could end up that Vancouver receives a better deal for Kesler in the summer, when teams have more flexibility to do deals. But Canucks fans have heard that before. Right now, there’s not a lot of faith it all turns out for the best, and speculation, valid or not, is only going to grow that Gillis will be fired.