Fantasy Impact: Per several sources (Elliotte Friedman, Pierre Lebrun), the Canucks have traded Ryan Kesler to Anaheim for Nick Bonino, Luca Sbisa and the 24th overall pick plus a third-round pick in this weekend’s draft.

The Canucks get: in Bonino, a “Ryan Kesler-light”. Bonino is a solid – even elite – third-line center who has proven that he can fill the second-line job and even has some upside there. Not unlike the Kesler from several years ago. With the 24th overall pick, according to our Mock Draft, we had Nikita Scherbak, David Pastrnak, Nikolay Goldobin, Adrian Kempe and Julius Honka going picks 23 through 27. In the Fantasy Prospects Report Mock Draft we had similar players, as well as Thatcher Demko (a goaltender) and wildcard Josh Ho-Sang in around that pick or slightly lower.

With Sbisa, speaking of wildcards, you have a talented two-way blueliner but he gets injured a lot. Up until now, we haven’t been able to put our finger on just what he can do, but if he can stay healthy he could be a Dan Hamhuis-type.

The Ducks get: one of the best two-way centers in the game. When he’s healthy. Kesler has been living on the IR throughout most of the last three years and if he hasn’t been on the IR, he’s been playing through pain and injury. If he can get back to 100% health, the Ducks may have got themselves a 70-point second liner who can do it all – including lead and win.

Fantasy Players Impacted: I always subscribe to the “new environment, thriving player” theory because odds are that’s exactly what happens. In Kesler’s case, this is true more than ever. Not only did he feel like it was a toxic environment, but the Canucks are in rebuilding mode and coming off a low-scoring year. The Ducks are going in the opposite direction. Look for Kesler to thrive (if healthy). On the flip side, Bonino is coming off a very strong year and although he’ll see more ice time in Vancouver, he may not match the points he just posted with Anaheim in the season ahead.

In Vancouver, the Canucks are merely replacing Kesler with Bonino. There is no real advantage or disadvantage for any of the players there, although if Jordan Schroeder can stay healthy perhaps he gets a boost in PP time.

In Anaheim, because Kesler is unquestionably No.2, then Mathieu Perreault will once again tread water as a third-liner. Kesler’s potential linemates will receive a small boost though – I’m thinking Jakob Silfverberg and possibly Kyle Palmieri or Matt Beleskey (or a free agent yet to be signed).

Fantasy Players this helps, in order:

1. Kesler

2. Silfverberg/Palmieri

3. Beleskey

4. Sbisa

5. Schroeder

Fantasy Players this hurts, in order:

1. Perreault

2. Bonino

Kesler

Bonino

Sbisa