Ryan Kesler’s career in question after latest hip surgery

After another hip surgery, Ryan Kesler is unlikely to play next season for the Anaheim Ducks, and has decisions to make about ever playing again.

The Anaheim Ducks announced Monday forward Ryan Kesler underwent a successful hip resurfacing surgery on May 9 and that the door is still open for Kesler to resume his NHL career after a “lengthy recovery process”.

Hip resurfacing surgery is a bone-preserving hip replacement. Instead of the femoral bone being removed, it is trimmed and capped with a smooth metal covering. The procedure can provide pain relief and increase function in normal activities of daily living.

Kesler also had the option of undergoing a hip replacement surgery, which would’ve effectively ended his NHL career. Kesler underwent another hip surgery in June 2017 in order remove bone fragments, which ignited his recent health issues affecting his career.

Despite the successful surgery, Kesler is unlikely to return to the Ducks for the 2019-20 season, but could resume his career at some point in the future if he feels himself able.

“At this point Ryan needs to think about his life and family,” Ducks general manager Bob Murray said Monday. “The pain he felt was significant, and we agree with his decision to have this surgery. While it’s unlikely he will play in 2019-20, we will support any decision he makes about his future playing career. He deserves the utmost respect, which he will receive from the entire Ducks organization as he contemplates his future.”

Kesler played 60 games for the Ducks last season, posting five goals and three assists for the lowest point per game total of his 15-year career. During his prime, Kesler was one of the premier defensive forwards in the NHL and won the Selke Trophy as the league’s best defensive forward in 2010-11 with the Vancouver Canucks. He was nominate for the award four other times throughout his career. Throughout his career, Kesler has recorded 573 points in 1,001 games.

Kesler was questionable to return at all before the season began. He somehow came back in October and stuck around for most of the season. As the season went on, the amount of stress on his hip caused it to wear down over time and make his condition worse. He sat out the final 14 games of the season.

“The back-to-back games, and the four games in six nights,” Kesler said. “That’s what broke me down and broke my hip down over the course of the year.

Kesler has three years remaining on his contract with a $6,875,000 cap hit in each of those years. The Ducks will almost certainly place him on long-term injured reserve in order to get significant cap relief, while still paying him the money he’s owed.

After reaching the 1,000 games milestone last season, Kesler has nothing left to prove and should place the priority on being able to live the rest of his life in comfort with his family.