Gonz Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 So you're saying a defenceman is worthless if they don't put up points? For real? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nucks_rule1 Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 He has played well and should have some interest, If barker plays like he did last night then Ballard is going to stay in the doghouse. A trade at this point would be good for the canucks, especially considering the cap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeNiro Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Only way this makes sense is if there is a pending trade with Florida that includes Gudbranson, and they were just waiting on the results of Theodore's injury. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5minutesinthebox Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 He came to the team after having a major injury and didn't even get the time to adjust before he became a healthy scratch after a few games in in his first season with us. How on earth do you expect him to perform if a slightest mistake would get him into the press box? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disisdayear Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 It couldn't possibly have been a massive hip injury that required a 2nd surgery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rawkdrummer Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 We didn't lose to Calgary because of Ballard. I say bench AV and by that I don't mean stand on it a yell at the refs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UFCanuck Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 What agent of a Canuck doesn't? Non story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonz Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Ballard had 1 pt in 19 games and a 0 plus/minus despite not playing much against the other teams' top lines. He is not big and is not really very physical, so he does not contribute much to team toughness. And he is not a particularly strong shot blocker. And he needs to play the left side. He has trouble adapting to the right side. He is okay but he is definitely the weakest of the top 6 Ds. Alberts at least brings size and a physical game into the mix. The problem with a trade is that very few teams would be willing to take on his cap hit of over 4 million. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xereau Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Management and AV are really making this team look bad lately. First our star rookie demands a trade out of here, then they force a player into early retirement despite him saying he's fine. Now a second player in less than a year might be demanding a trade? (third if you believe Luongo asked for one) This organization is slipping right now. You don't treat players like this, otherwise good luck tying to sign new players in the summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kryten Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Ballard had 1 pt in 19 games and a 0 plus/minus despite not playing much against the other teams' top lines. He is not big and is not really very physical, so he does not contribute much to team toughness. And he is not a particularly strong shot blocker. And he needs to play the left side. He has trouble adapting to the right side. He is okay but he is definitely the weakest of the top 6 Ds. Alberts at least brings size and a physical game into the mix. The problem with a trade is that very few teams would be willing to take on his cap hit of over 4 million. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goal:thecup Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 This was probably a decision made by almost all of the team's managers: Gillis, Gilman, AV, Bowness, Henning, maybe even some of the scouts have had input. Ballard may be back in next game, may be involved in a trade, may have a personal issue, etc., and AV is going to be just one of the decision-makers. Barker had a very good first showing and Alberts played better than he did against LA, in my opinion. Also IMO, we still need a monster RH defenceman in the top six so management has not finished changing the back-end yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonz Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Provost, I think you nailed it on the head...I've been a Ballard fan since his days in PHX and even when he clobbered Vokoun with his sledgehammer in FLA...but now that we've seen him play this year in full health, he doesn't look like the same guy that he was in PHX/FLA. He still has that north-south speed and smoothness, but he doesn't seem to pivot and turn as well as someone like Tanev. As well, one of the unfortunate things about pro athletes is that they think they can still do all the things they could before a debilitating injury, and I think that's what Ballard is dealing with, much to his detriment (i.e., he's been trying to do too much ever since he got here, often putting himself and linemates in tough situations). Ballard has been our left handed Bieksa...a high risk high reward style player...only difference being we've got more reward from Bieksa than Ballard. Ballard, as good a guy as he seems to be with his teammates, has had problems with a coach in the past (Peter DeBoer), so maybe the problem is equal parts Ballard and Vigneault...who knows? One thing is certain though...if he can't stay in the lineup in spite of how well he's played for the most part this season (regardless of reason for being taken out of the lineup), the time has come to move him. Ballard for Daniel Alfredsson...straight up. Having Alfie in our lineup for the stretch run will allow us good balance up front and re-unite Burr with Kes (Burr seems to be the only guy on our roster who can play with Kes). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supermanbieksa Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Seriously?! He's been our best d this season, so to me it's a mystery why Av even has put him in the dog house again. And I fully understand if Ballard wants to, he deserves to be treated better than this organisation has treated him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quoted Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Lol if we get Ballard for Alfredsson straight up, I'm gonna tAke you to the most expensive steak house Vancouver has to offer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsCanuck Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Good one AV. Chase out the only D-man who has been playing his game consistently. Why can't AV be traded... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonz Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 I absolutely think Ballard should be traded. He does not deserve what he is getting at all. Offense for D comes from opportunity. Ballard plays a limited role and knows that as soon as he makes a defensive mistake he will be benched.......does that seem like an environment where he would be willing to take any chance at all offensively? The guy had 28 points his last year in Florida. And you expect that all of a sudden he lost his offensive game that much without it being at least partially to do with his role and opportunity in VAN? As for the cap argument, last time I checked we are not in dire need of that cap space. If it is needed for a move then that is a different story. But right now Van has cap space. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spliced Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 So this seems to indicate that Ballard is back in the doghouse and not dealing with some sort of personal issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonz Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Your royalty cheque is in the mail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallstreetamigo Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 That actually has been known to happen. Maybe the Florida system allowed the dmen more freedom to jump up in the play. Im not sure why people are defending Ballard. On top of that, its Florida! Yes, his play has been good THIS year. But he was TERRIBLE for us up until late last season. Why would the coaches reward terrible defensive play by giving him more ice time on the PP, especially on a PP that was near the top of the league. You cant blame AV for Ballards play since he came here. This wasnt a rookie developing. Ballard just could not grasp the system for whatever reason. Ballard has been getting plenty of opportunity this season, and the way AV has been utilizing him has been working. He is a better defencemen, when he isnt thinking of joining the rush. He has been playing sheltered 3rd pairing minutes and is a 0 and has 1 assist, even Tavev who gets the idenitcal amount of ice time (but less time of the PP) has been putting up points. Even with 2 min of PP time in Florida he managed only 1 g and 8 ass for the season, while getting 7 g and 11 as at even strength in his last year there and was still a -7 on the year (2nd worst on the team) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quoted Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 So this seems to indicate that Ballard is back in the doghouse and not dealing with some sort of personal issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.