What's the real deal with Keith Ballard?

[aqua59]

I think you're more or less talking about groups that don't rat on each other so to speak. AV seems to have his whipping boys and then there's some guys too good to be whipping boys, Kessler or even Luongo. Those 2 examples will stand up to AV and can get away with it. Most of the rest can't.

[Boudrias]

Haven't I covered this already?

1 - a pairing that provides offense

2 - a shutdown pairing

These two pairings will get the most ice time. Edler is in the first pairing, Hamhuis is in the second pairing. Where does that leave Ballard? Well that leaves the third pairing.

3 - third pairing gets less ice time and plays primarily behind bottom six players and about half their ice time is likely to be behind the fourth line. As a result their role is to play a safer, simpler game.

Ballard hasn't adapted well to playing that safe/simple game. He can't provide the offense Edler does and can't play the shutdown Hamhuis does. What role is left for him?

The whole idea of keeping him was to have solid depth. Yet when Edler was injured he performed poorly in the offensive role. He was replaced by Rome even strength and by Samuelsson on the PP. When Hamhuis was hurt he performed poorly in the shutdown role and was replaced by Rome or Alberts. When Ehrhoff left he was tried on the right side and again performed poorly. He even said himself that he's just not comfortable on the right side. I'll ask again, if he can't provide better offense than Edler, can't provide better defense than Hamhuis, and can't play the right side, what role is left? Answer: The role with the least ice time that he also can't seem to adapt to: the bottom pair.

Some keep saying AV hasn't used him properly. I disagree. Ballard has simply not performed when opportunities have presented themselves and has been unable to adapt to a new role. As I said, he a square peg trying to fit into a round hole on this team. It has nothing to do with AV being fair or playing favorites. That's Ballard fan fiction. It has everything to do with Ballards performance.

[TheCammer]

And none of that is his fault. AV is 100% to blame for the mismanagement of Ballard. Looking at his game log stats on NHL.com and in his entire 3 seasons as a Canuck he has had only 8 games where he played 20 minutes or more. And most of those games came in his 1st season here. That is absolutely ridiculous given the amount of injuries we've had on D and when you look at his skillset. It's always some stupid excuse like he can't play the right side or something too. Good coaches reward players who play well. Ballard should of called AV out but he's a professional about it. Can't wait till he's traded or gone so he can actually go somewhere and help a team that needs a solid top 4 defenseman.

[TheCammer]

Haven't I covered this already?

1 - a pairing that provides offense

2 - a shutdown pairing

These two pairings will get the most ice time. Edler is in the first pairing, Hamhuis is in the second pairing. Where does that leave Ballard? Well that leaves the third pairing.

3 - third pairing gets less ice time and plays primarily behind bottom six players and about half their ice time is likely to be behind the fourth line. As a result their role is to play a safer, simpler game.

Ballard hasn't adapted well to playing that safe/simple game. He can't provide the offense Edler does and can't play the shutdown Hamhuis does. What role is left for him?

The whole idea of keeping him was to have solid depth. Yet when Edler was injured he performed poorly in the offensive role. He was replaced by Rome even strength and by Samuelsson on the PP. When Hamhuis was hurt he performed poorly in the shutdown role and was replaced by Rome or Alberts. When Ehrhoff left he was tried on the right side and again performed poorly. He even said himself that he's just not comfortable on the right side. I'll ask again, if he can't provide better offense than Edler, can't provide better defense than Hamhuis, and can't play the right side, what role is left? Answer: The role with the least ice time that he also can't seem to adapt to: the bottom pair.

Some keep saying AV hasn't used him properly. I disagree. Ballard has simply not performed when opportunities have presented themselves and has been unable to adapt to a new role. As I said, he a square peg trying to fit into a round hole on this team. It has nothing to do with AV being fair or playing favorites. That's Ballard fan fiction. It has everything to do with Ballards performance.

[Your New Coach Mr. Tippett]

At least there was a chance, if Ballard played, that he could have sent a key Shark ass-over--teakettle at some point and put them out of the series.

Further, Corrado got MANHANDLED along the boards and in the corner. Ballard would not have been worse.

[Smiley2051]

Van should try to keep him then? If Ballard can return to his old form with a new coaching staff would he not be valuable when the injury bug no doubt plagues the blue line? Gillis can at least try to redeem himself on that trade....

...I hate next year's cap ceiling

[Nino]

Van should try to keep him then? If Ballard can return to his old form with a new coaching staff would he not be valuable when the injury bug no doubt plagues the blue line? Gillis can at least try to redeem himself on that trade....

...I hate next year's cap ceiling

[nuck nit]

Ballard was beset with an injury before he got here and during the majority of his entire tenure with the club: back,MCL,head injuries.

He was proving to be a very valuable rearguard before his second concussion.

As he has had two concussions and he can never be the same player but he can be effective paired with the proper partner.

Will the Canucks carry his salary on the diminishing cap or jettison him for the relief or retain his services with the hopes of future trade return?

Stay tuned for Vancouver's next chapter in 'How the Ballard Churns'.

[Bananas]

Haven't I covered this already?

1 - a pairing that provides offense

2 - a shutdown pairing

These two pairings will get the most ice time. Edler is in the first pairing, Hamhuis is in the second pairing. Where does that leave Ballard? Well that leaves the third pairing.

3 - third pairing gets less ice time and plays primarily behind bottom six players and about half their ice time is likely to be behind the fourth line. As a result their role is to play a safer, simpler game.

Ballard hasn't adapted well to playing that safe/simple game. He can't provide the offense Edler does and can't play the shutdown Hamhuis does. What role is left for him?

The whole idea of keeping him was to have solid depth. Yet when Edler was injured he performed poorly in the offensive role. He was replaced by Rome even strength and by Samuelsson on the PP. When Hamhuis was hurt he performed poorly in the shutdown role and was replaced by Rome or Alberts. When Ehrhoff left he was tried on the right side and again performed poorly. He even said himself that he's just not comfortable on the right side. I'll ask again, if he can't provide better offense than Edler, can't provide better defense than Hamhuis, and can't play the right side, what role is left? Answer: The role with the least ice time that he also can't seem to adapt to: the bottom pair.

Some keep saying AV hasn't used him properly. I disagree. Ballard has simply not performed when opportunities have presented themselves and has been unable to adapt to a new role. As I said, he a square peg trying to fit into a round hole on this team. It has nothing to do with AV being fair or playing favorites. That's Ballard fan fiction. It has everything to do with Ballards performance.

[Kryten]

Ballard was NEVER given a fair shake on this team (to suggest otherwise is asinine). And for those who say he has trouble handling the rough stuff:

Clean your corrective lenses people, Ballard is more qualified to handle players in front of his own net than anyone else on our defense. A coach who sits a player like that in the playoffs (especially one who has a history of playing tough against said opponent) is asking to get pushed around.

[Vansicle]

Ballard shows a lack of coordination between MG and AV.

MG paid a riduculous price for Ballard -- a first round pick AND a former first round pick who was about to become a 30-goal scorer when all Florida was doing was dumping a salary. One of the worst moves a Canuck GM has ever made.

However, Ballard did have an upside. He was an excellent skater and liked to carry the puck. MG liked the fact that he had been healthy for his whole careers and he had a positive plus-minus on a weak team. And he was known for throwing some tough hip checks.

But in Vancouver AV slotted him into a third pairing role -- a low risk guy who would be physical in his own end. This neutralized Ballard's biggest strengths -- skating and puck carrying. It also highlighted his weaknesses --he is not that big and gets pushed around by big forwards.

Given what AV wanted from a third pairng guy, Rome and Alberts were both better fits. For Ballard to be useful the Canucks would have needed to play a different system.

[higgyfan]

The cap hit next year will force the Canucks to trade Ballard and probably one of the top 4D. Ballard will be replaced by Corrado. I do believe that a team will want Ballard, as dmen are always in big demand. He certainly isn't a top 4 dman on the Canucks, but might be on another team. I don't think the Nucks will get a whole lot for him though.

I'm not convinced that Ballard's poor play has anything to do with AV or the team's system. It will be interesting to see how he does on another team.

[Drouin]

[riffraff]

Ballard shows a lack of coordination between MG and AV.

MG paid a riduculous price for Ballard -- a first round pick AND a former first round pick who was about to become a 30-goal scorer when all Florida was doing was dumping a salary. One of the worst moves a Canuck GM has ever made.

However, Ballard did have an upside. He was an excellent skater and liked to carry the puck. MG liked the fact that he had been healthy for his whole careers and he had a positive plus-minus on a weak team. And he was known for throwing some tough hip checks.

But in Vancouver AV slotted him into a third pairing role -- a low risk guy who would be physical in his own end. This neutralized Ballard's biggest strengths -- skating and puck carrying. It also highlighted his weaknesses --he is not that big and gets pushed around by big forwards.

Given what AV wanted from a third pairng guy, Rome and Alberts were both better fits. For Ballard to be useful the Canucks would have needed to play a different system.

[canucksnihilist]

Ballard is a potentially great player. Was never given a chance.

Irony is that once AV is gone, so is he...

[ButterBean]

That part made me burst out laughing. Ridiculous price?

What was Grabner actually worth? He had a well established history of showing up to camp in poor shape. He was waiver eligible. He had offensive skill but was also questionable on the defensive side. He was a make the team or clear waivers piece. Howden? After three years he has played 18 NHL games, absolutely no points and is a -11. Here he'd be considered a bust already. Florida also took Bernier as a cap dump.

So you're a GM wanting to move a top four d-man. Here's what I'm offering:

- A waiver eligible prospect who has offensive ability but will show up in poor shape

- A bottom end 1st rounder who likely won't be NHL ready for years (if he pans out at all)

- And I want you to take an overpaid 3rd liner as a salary dump

What we traded was two gambles and a cap dump. The fact that they took the cap dump would be the reason it was a 1st rounder instead of a 2nd. Hardly a ridiculous price. The same as getting Ehrhoff so cheap because we also took a cap dump that had to be buried in the minors.

[Cynrgee]

I'm sure Ballard remembers vividly the frustration of sitting in the press box last season. I wish him well and hope his next coach allows him to play to his potential.

[canuckelhead70]

Thought this was a Seinfeld bit.......

[Fred65]

The problem with Ballard started when the Pro scouts recommended him. They should be the first casualties this summer. Ballard is a free flowing offensive D who can not or will not play the Canucks system. It's not because he doesn't have talent it's because his talent does not fit the teams system and he can't change. Chances are he will flourish on another team. Remember what Garrison said playing in Vcr rather than Florida is like comparing Kindergarten with university, Garrison is coming around...still hesitant at times but I'm sure he'll get there...Ballard not a chance

[a Fool]

Thought this was a Seinfeld bit.......