Italia2006 Posted July 5, 2012 Author Share Posted July 5, 2012 Ballard averaged 30 points a season before coming to Vancouver and threw 150 hits a season. He has had two fairly serious injuries in his two years here, has had a hard time getting some continuity, hasn't really had a complementary partner/pairing, and due to the depth of the Canucks top 4, has played more of a depth role than he had previously. People like to blame AV for this. I don't think it is anywhere near that simple. I like Ballard - I particularly like the fact he has been very stand-up, acknowledging having to improve his game - he has shown a good attitude and ability to handle criticism. His game was improving when he suffered his second injury, and he came back strong from that injury this season and played well. There is a lot of upside to his game - he is obviously an outstanding skater, he isn't a big guy, but is relatively physical for his size, he moves the puck well. The one thing that has annoyed me about his game has been his sometimes casual pursuit of loose pucks, but that aside, I think he was showing signs of being the top four guy he was, and is due for a bounce back season. He is certainly capable of being (if not already) one of the best third pairing d-men in the NHL, and a valuable guy to have in the event of injury to your top 4, as he is capable of playing quality top 4 minutes. The fact that the Canucks don't have that 7 million dollar contract on their blueline allows them more balance, and at an NHL average of 3 million, I am not going to complain about Ballard's 4.2. People here like to malign him exceedingly, but I think there are a lot of teams that would be very intelligent to try to pry him away. A team like Edmonton could really use a guy like Ballard. IMO he is a better bang for your buck than any of the Leafs veteran blueliners. I have a feeling he could have a bounce back year, and Tanev may be the most suitable partner he has had in his tme here. The Kings third pairing of Greene and Martinez was pretty solid, but if Tanev continues to improve as he has to this point, he and Ballard imo could also be considered in a class with the best third pairings in the NHL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armada Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 He's gonna thrive next season. Ballard was our best D-Man against LA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GradinToSmyl Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 Ballard is under-rated / over-crapped on... his contract is fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GradinToSmyl Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 Ballard averaged 30 points a season before coming to Vancouver and threw 150 hits a season. He has had two fairly serious injuries in his two years here, has had a hard time getting some continuity, hasn't really had a complementary partner/pairing, and due to the depth of the Canucks top 4, has played more of a depth role than he had previously. People like to blame AV for this. I don't think it is anywhere near that simple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GradinToSmyl Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 I couldn't of said it any better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdubuya Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 He's gonna thrive next season. Ballard was our best D-Man against LA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karan01 Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 Forget Ballard we all know that contract is horrible, Bieksa no one talks about, hes just terrible and carries a horrendous contract. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GradinToSmyl Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 Forget Ballard we all know that contract is horrible, Bieksa no one talks about, hes just terrible and carries a horrendous contract. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smyl ( : Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 If he sits in the press box again for most of the year it is wasted cap space and AV will have to decide to give him a regular spot..otherwise we can find cheaper guys to sit in the pressbox Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edlerberry Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 I want more cap space. Ballard for a 5th will be fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Italia2006 Posted July 5, 2012 Author Share Posted July 5, 2012 Actually, if you typed "have" rather than "of", you could have said it better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Italia2006 Posted July 5, 2012 Author Share Posted July 5, 2012 I guess from what everyone is saying a bottom d guy getting paid 4 mill per year is too much. I agree and I especially agree if we have a guy like Weber in our top 4 pairing. So my question is do we take the risk of playing with Ballard next year hopping he has a bounce back year or do we trade him now while he has value? He's a first round pick with good numbers to show. He's also the fastest skater on the Canucks. He's shown flashes of being able to go end to end with the puck. Maybe he's one of the pieces in getting Weber. Nashville still has to make the floor and they're going to have to take on some salary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tearloch7 Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 Go to walmart. $2.49 for a pack of 4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tearloch7 Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 DP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdubuya Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 I guess from what everyone is saying a bottom d guy getting paid 4 mill per year is too much. I agree and I especially agree if we have a guy like Weber in our top 4 pairing. So my question is do we take the risk of playing with Ballard next year hopping he has a bounce back year or do we trade him now while he has value? He's a first round pick with good numbers to show. He's also the fastest skater on the Canucks. He's shown flashes of being able to go end to end with the puck. Maybe he's one of the pieces in getting Weber. Nashville still has to make the floor and they're going to have to take on some salary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmployeeoftheMonth Posted July 5, 2012 Share Posted July 5, 2012 Forget Ballard we all know that contract is horrible, Bieksa no one talks about, hes just terrible and carries a horrendous contract. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philipp0130 Posted July 19, 2012 Share Posted July 19, 2012 I say keep him if we can't resign elder we still can have a potential top 4 d-man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ice orca Posted July 20, 2012 Share Posted July 20, 2012 I wouldnt mind that either, Komisarek is exactly what the Nucks need right now on the back end. A very physical nasty first type of D man that is not a over liability in his own end and can make the first pass out. Puck moving is overrated a lot of times IF the player can make the first pass. Thats all a good defenceman really needs to do, is make a good solid first pass out, let the forwards do what they are paid to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldnews Posted July 20, 2012 Share Posted July 20, 2012 The Canucks can afford to have their 5th defenseman making a million more than the NHL average by virtue of the fact that their top paid guy makes only 400k more, their top forward line makes a combined 14.2 million, and their young marquis goaltender is making millions less than much weaker backstops... Nothing wrong with having a top 4 quality defenseman in the 5th spot - which is what Ballard is - and if he stays healthy this year, alot of CDC parrots gonna eat crow. regarding the Komisarek sales kick - "not a over liability in his own end" is an awful weak sell - not gonna get it done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulKariyaALH Posted July 20, 2012 Share Posted July 20, 2012 Cap hit: 2.2 mil Trade Value: Myron + Hutton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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