The Canucks superstar is among nine male sports stars posing au naturel, including basketball player Blake Griffin, footballer Steven Jackson and UFC fighter Jon Jones. Kesler is the only NHL player to appear this year.
Eleven women are also appearing in the issue, a consistent best-seller for the publication, including snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler, hockey player Julie Chu and surfer Steph Gilmore.
Kesler has already posed nearly naked while promoting his underwear line.
The center underwent a successful hip surgery in July that kept him off the ice for the Canucks’ entire preseason. He has said he’s confident he’ll be able to lace up for the team’s season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins this Thursday.
