RunningWild Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 http://www.nhl.com/i...iewName=summary dunno what stats you were looking at, -1 in 4 games played, 14minutes avg icetime, 3rd on defence of +/- only behind his partner Tanev and Bieksa at +0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merci Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 He said he learned a lot from being concussed. Watching the games from the press box. Not gonna lie seems like he had a 180 degree turn around. No way we trade him after such a dominant performance against a team that beat us in 5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master Mind Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Plus/minus stats are not exactly relevant stats, the underlying ones tell the real story. He played against the plugs (3rd and 4th) lines majority of his shifts, averaged the smallest icetime, and was still on the ice for 2 goals against at even strength (Tanev = 0). His useless penalty in gm 2 led directly to the GWG for LA. He was a -5 chance differential in the entire series, only Salo and Hamhuis were worse (and Hammer/Salo played more mins against toughest/tough competition). Given that he hadn't played hockey in months, they probably aren't horrible numbers - but he should have been replaced by Rome IMO (things I never thought I'd say). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L'Orange Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Ballard is changed. He is a great defensman and looked it during the playoffs. We will see his worth in October for sure. He will be top 4 next season. A couple of defenseman will be traded in conjunction with a forward for a top tier blueliner this summer in Vancouver. Ballard won't be one of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RunningWild Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 You can't really use that kind of stat against him. You can't expect him to create multiple scoring chances on his own, his linemates need to create the chances too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sedinz Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Edler-Wideman Hamhuis-Bieksa Ballard-Carkner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck or Die Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 He better be in the top four next season. If they are going to keep him on the bottom pairing, then trade him. If he had top minutes, I think he would do well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curmudgeon Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 I like Ballard's skating, vision, physical play and great attitude. He runs around a bit too much in his own zone and I sometimes question his hockey sense, but I think he has a future in Vancouver. And the salary is the salary. You either eat it, or you move him out for someone cheaper with a similar skill set and lower cap hit. Like any of those are available.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DownUndaCanuck Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 MG has typically made one move too many. Hamhuis was a great acquisition, but we didn't need Ballard. Likewise, Pahlsson was a great addition but we didn't need Kassian. I wish Mitchell re-signed here and we had Hamhuis as well, Cup winning team right here: Sedin - Sedin - Burrows (great top line) Grabner - Kesler - Raymond (amazing speedy line, the 3 played great together) Higgins - Lapierre - Booth (ex-Habs chemistry, great forechecking and can score) Malhotra - Pahlsson - Hansen (shutdown line, all 3 are great defensively) Edler - Hamhuis Mitchell - Bieksa Salo - Tanev/Rome Alberts Luongo Schneider That team probably would have won a Cup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tangelos Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 . Grabner is getting paid over 3m right now, and he sucks ass. One year wonder. He was on their 4th line most nights. Yes the Islanders have a 4th line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smackyo23 Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Cap hit is bad, the player is good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyBernard Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 I can see him pairing up with tanev again or possibly getting more minutes with edler on the second d-pairing. And whoever we get to replace salo if he decides to retire, will slot in somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burnsey Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 I would rather Grabner and Howden and have used the cap for resigning Mitchell. MG's biggest blunder, he's pretty good otherwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master Mind Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 I agree that stats aren't everything, and really it's a small sample size. I just don't see Ballard getting top 4 minutes on this team, and when he's eating $4.2M of cap space, he's not well utilized. He's a lefty who can't play the right side. Edler and Hamhuis are ahead of him on the depth chart, unless he can consistently play better than either of them- he won't get the ice time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merci Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 MG has typically made one move too many. Hamhuis was a great acquisition, but we didn't need Ballard. Likewise, Pahlsson was a great addition but we didn't need Kassian. I wish Mitchell re-signed here and we had Hamhuis as well, Cup winning team right here: Sedin - Sedin - Burrows (great top line) Grabner - Kesler - Raymond (amazing speedy line, the 3 played great together) Higgins - Lapierre - Booth (ex-Habs chemistry, great forechecking and can score) Malhotra - Pahlsson - Hansen (shutdown line, all 3 are great defensively) Edler - Hamhuis Mitchell - Bieksa Salo - Tanev/Rome Alberts Luongo Schneider That team probably would have won a Cup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ossi Vaananen Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 Not worth the cap hit but a great player nonetheless. I respect what he's able to do with his size, 5'11 200, dishes out huge hip checks and is this years fastest skater, for an undersized defenceman he plays with heart. I just can't figure out why Vigneault gets angryface with Ballard, hes the coach V kind of guy that starts something and fights his own battles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kryten Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 I agree that stats aren't everything, and really it's a small sample size. I just don't see Ballard getting top 4 minutes on this team, and when he's eating $4.2M of cap space, he's not well utilized. He's a lefty who can't play the right side. Edler and Hamhuis are ahead of him on the depth chart, unless he can consistently play better than either of them- he won't get the ice time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baggins Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 What did you guys think of his post-season performance? I thought he looked absolute fantasic and did exactly what we thought he could do, all while getting 3rd pairing minutes. He was energetic, smart, and played with speed and power. Would you trade him in the offseason or try him out for the first 15 games or so with top 4 minutes? All opinoins are welcome:P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baggins Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 I'm glad to hear you say that about stats, they really are misleading, kudos to you for not relying solely on them. I agree that Ballard is not well utilized and I don't know if he will ever be given the opportunity to play top four minutes (for at least a few games straight) even if he does outplay his companions. For that to happen it would take a change in either the coach's hockey philosophy (team system by extension) or a change in coaching itself. Neither is likely to happen, but at least we have Ballard in case we run into injury problems or the like. I hope we keep him for the long haul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bodee Posted April 30, 2012 Share Posted April 30, 2012 I want Ballard to stay for one reason alone... ...He entertains me! The team is just more fun with KB4 around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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