You're going to be surprised when you see Ballard play under a different coach and system. Fringe NHLer? Not even close. He's been treated awful here. Never was given a chance from the get go. His mind has been ***** with under AV. Hard to get any play going when you're on the bench for every mistake you make and guys like Edler and Bieksa get free passes to mess up a 100 times a game.
And the reason he has so many fans is because despite all this, he has never complained once. He has been a true professional. Luongo gets a ton of praise for handling things the right way but Ballard should too.
I have nothing bad to say about Ballard as a person. He's handled what must be a very difficult situation for him with a great deal of class.
But the notion that he stunk because of Vigneault is utter rubbish.
He started each of his 3 seasons here playing regularly through the first half of the season. He was given a chance to perform in 15-17 minutes/game of icetime. He didn't get PP time (he didn't deserve it) but was getting a consistent run-through 5-on-5 as our #5 (ish) defender.
And he was crap. All 3 years. And then ended up getting benched in the second half of the season.
Keith Ballard's skill-set was never really utilized. He can be a catalyst to our offence if his speed is used properly.
Instead, Ballard was designated to the 3rd pairing, playing passive, defensive hockey. Gotta love those ineffective zone entries the Canucks have been using (long tip-in pass? Seriously?!). Shocking how our scoring has been absolute ****.
No, Ballard isn't the solution to all our offensive woes. But this situation represents the team as a whole for the past couple of seasons. They are not playing to their strengths.
What skillset?
He's a good skater and decent puck carrier, yes.
But that doesn't mean anything when you can't see the ice, can't pass the puck, can't shoot the puck, and the play constantly dies when the puck is on your stick.
Somehow the way Vigneault used Rome was 'laughable' and he was Vigneault's pet, but the fact of the matter is that Rome out-performed Ballard offensively in the same minutes. And defensively, for that matter.
9 points in 83 games over the past 2 years. If you want more icetime, earn it. He didn't.