I can honestly see that. I found it kinda wierd in an interview earlier this season Gillis briefly mentioned NTC's not being an issue if a player comes to them asking that he may want a change.
As much as I love Kesler, I wouldn't be surprised if he came to Gillis and said, if it looked like the Canucks were gunna miss the playoffs and do a retool that may take a year or two. That he'd like a change.