Keith Ballard Discussion

[absolute garbage]

I thought Ballard played decent in those very limited minutes he had. Offensively he's a black hole but defensively he competed well one on one, tried to play safe hockey, focus on positioning and reading the play instead of chasing it, which he sometimes struggles with. That being said, that random icing at one point that resulted few scoring chances to San Jose was another boneheaded play that you see him make sometimes and I'm sure that gets coaches fuming.

And before anyone complains, sure, Edler had his bad moments aswell. But in the big picture, like that quote above from Ballard says, the teams that Ballard has played 25 minutes/game have been at the bottom of the league, where as Edler playing top minutes has resulted in back to back President's Trophys.

 

[shortshorts]

If everything goes perfectly this season, we see this:

Edler Tanev
Hamhuis Bieksa
Garrison Ballard

 

[Barney Gumble]

And before anyone complains, sure, Edler had his bad moments aswell. But in the big picture, like that quote above from Ballard says, the teams that Ballard has played 25 minutes/game have been at the bottom of the league, where as Edler playing top minutes has resulted in back to back President's Trophys.

Kind of like scoring 30+ goals for a lottery pick team vs 20+ goals for a team that has some attainable goal to reach.

(sorry for the thread jacking....)

 

[freakydave]

I thought Ballard played decent in those very limited minutes he had. Offensively he's a black hole but defensively he competed well one on one, tried to play safe hockey, focus on positioning and reading the play instead of chasing it, which he sometimes struggles with. That being said, that random icing at one point that resulted few scoring chances to San Jose was another boneheaded play that you see him make sometimes and I'm sure that gets coaches fuming.

And before anyone complains, sure, Edler had his bad moments aswell. But in the big picture, like that quote above from Ballard says, the teams that Ballard has played 25 minutes/game have been at the bottom of the league, where as Edler playing top minutes has resulted in back to back President's Trophys.

You seem to be implying Ballard is a top 4 Dman on bad teams while Edler is a top4 D man on a good/elite teams?
While this may be true Ballard's days in pho,fla those teams were bottom 1/2(17th & 19th) to bottom 1/3rd in scoring.They were also in the bottom 1/2 to 1/3rd in GAA(except 08-09) but that's not all on the D corp is it? further one season while Ballard was playing top 4 mins in FLA they were #10 in GAA-top 1/3 rd of the league.That same season 2008-09 Ballard was a + 14 with 34 pts & Edler was a+11 with 37 points.
The point is you seem to be giving Edler credit for the teams success(as an excuse for ignoring his flaws) while he was only a part of a successful team & has only ever played
for a successful franchise.While condeming Ballard as a 5-6 D man becuase his success was on bad teams.
I believe Ballard could be quite successful on this team playing on his off wing with Garrison in a top 4 roll until Bieksa returns.

 

[Jack Tripper]

in what will be a broken record for the remainder of the season, ballard will be benched again tonight in favour of alberts and barker

 

[Bleach Clean]

in what will be a broken record for the remainder of the season, ballard will be benched again tonight in favour of alberts and barker

Confirmed or speculation?

 

[Babs]

in what will be a broken record for the remainder of the season, ballard will be benched again tonight in favour of alberts and barker

How long before Ballard tells his Daddy?

 

[PG Canuck]

Confirmed or speculation?

Confirmed. Barker also suppose to get PP time as well.

 

[nuckfan insk]

id rather see ballard on the pp and barker reasigned to a differant continent

 

[professorchaos]

Confirmed. Barker also suppose to get PP time as well.

That will teach Ballard for outplaying and outshooting his teammates (except for Daniel) last game. Positive reinforcement alive and well. AV has his head up his ***.

 

[vanuck]

I'm sad to say that nothing surprises me anymore.

 

[Bleach Clean]

Trade him already. This cannot go beyond the deadline.

 

[L4cer8]

We are intentionally tanking at this point, that's the only logical explanation as to why we keep playing those two idiots over Ballard. Seriously, what is going on?!

 

[arsmaster*]

Trade him already. This cannot go beyond the deadline.

I was going to post this exact comment.

IMO this is more of a distraction than the goalies situation.

 

[Fat Tony]

Trade him already. This cannot go beyond the deadline.

I bet it can.

 

[Bleach Clean]

I was going to post this exact comment.

IMO this is more of a distraction than the goalies situation.

It's simply idiotic that it has gotten to this point. What's left to do here? They certainly aren't looking to improve him anymore, not with this coach. Get rid of him at the deadline and get someone AV will actually play.

 

[Bleach Clean]

I bet it can.

Sure it "could"... it could go all the way to the end of the offseason. Even beyond if Gillis starts moving out other pieces in order to retain Ballard (as unlikely as that is).

But "should" not go beyond the deadline.

 

[Barney Gumble]

Sure it "could"... it could go all the way to the end of the offseason. Even beyond if Gillis starts moving out other pieces in order to retain Ballard (as unlikely as that is).

But "should" not go beyond the deadline.

or move AV.

 

[Fat Tony]

Sure it "could"... it could go all the way to the end of the offseason. Even beyond if Gillis starts moving out other pieces in order to retain Ballard (as unlikely as that is).

But "should" not go beyond the deadline.

I took your "cannot" in the wrong way. My feeling is that Gillis will be unable to move either Ballard or one of the goalies by the deadline, if he is inclined. I hope I'm wrong.

 

[vanuck]

or move AV.

I've said this before, but why does the GM have to adapt his whole roster for one man, and not the coach adapting to what his GM gives him? In what world is that sustainable?

 

[dave babych returns]

To people saying "this can't go on any longer," are the Canucks really better off moving a decent #6 guy in Ballard and trying to replace him with a defender (presumably someone not already on the roster) who is as likely to face a tough adjustment period to this team - as guys like Ballard and Alberts have before?

Is this team improved with someone like Eric Brewer or Jordan Leopold or Ian White or Jan Hejda here playing at 60-70% of their capacity while they learn the system rather than with Keith Ballard here playing at 60-70% of his capacity because the coaches won't use him?

 

[Johnny Canucker]

whats next, scratching Tanev for Jim Vandermeer?

 

[NOTENOUGHJTCGOALS]

To people saying "this can't go on any longer," are the Canucks really better off moving a decent #6 guy in Ballard and trying to replace him with a defender (presumably someone not already on the roster) who is as likely to face a tough adjustment period to this team - as guys like Ballard and Alberts have before?

Is this team improved with someone like Eric Brewer or Jordan Leopold or Ian White or Jan Hejda here playing at 60-70% of their capacity while they learn the system rather than with Keith Ballard here playing at 60-70% of his capacity because the coaches won't use him?

Eric Brewer has won olympic gold and a world cup of hockey while playing brilliant shut down defense. He was also voted as one of the top 10 most handsome athletes in North America for three straight years. He has the perfect combination of intimidating physique and seductive eyes to bring Vancouver it's first Stanley Cup.

 

[vanuck]

Eric Brewer has won olympic gold and a world cup of hockey while playing brilliant shut down defense. He was also voted as one of the top 10 most handsome athletes in North America for three straight years. He has the perfect combination of intimidating physique and seductive eyes to bring Vancouver it's first Stanley Cup.

Strong username-to-post-content correlation.

 

[Barney Gumble]

are the Canucks really better off moving a decent #6 guy in Ballard

Yes since in the minds of who it really matters - AV - he's worse than Alberts & Barker.

AV believes both of those individuals gives him a better chance at winning a game than Ballard.