Page "Ryan Kesler" Paragraph 12

When the NHL lockout ended and play resumed for the 2005 – 06 NHL season, Kesler joined the Canucks for his first full season with the team, playing in all 82 games and finishing the season with 23 points.

Following the 2005 – 06 NHL season, Kesler became a restricted free agent and was qualified by the Canucks at $ 564, 000 ; however, on September 12, 2006, Kesler signed a one-year, $ 1. 9-million offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers.

The offer sheet was the first in the NHL since the Tampa Bay Lightning extended one to Brett Hauer in July 1999.

The move was highly controversial with many NHL general managers criticizing how Kesler's inflated salary would affect future free agent signings.

The Canucks had one week to either match the offer or receive a second round draft pick from the Flyers in 2007 as compensation.

Two days after the offer sheet signing, the Canucks matched the Flyers ' offer, re-signing Kesler to a one-year, $ 1. 9-million contract.