The Ballad of Keith Ballard: victim of circumstance
by Donny Rivette on Jun 26, 2010 3:20 AM EDT
26 comments
Kind of a tough situation among Florida fans re: Keith Ballard's unceremonious trade Friday to the Vancouver Canucks (along with scrappy F Victor Oreskovich for F Steve Bernier, F Michael Grabner, and the 25th pick [F Quinton Howden]). In the spirit of full disclosure, I'm good with this deal, with a caveat.
Can't think of a single person who has ever mentioned disliking the guy, even after going all Pujols on Tomas Vokoun. That incident was, of course, an exercise in frustration, performed several hundred times throughout any given season. Minus the whole injury thing.
Ballard was the key piece of the Jacques Martin -engineered Olli Jokinen trade with Phoenix of June 2008, which included current Stanley Cup champion D Nick Boynton and a second-round pick (Jared Staal - later traded with a 2009 fourth-round pick [Justin Leonard] to FLA for an '09 second-rounder [D Colby Robak]). Still with me?
Ballard was subsequently signed to a six-year, $25.2M deal through 2015 (cap hit of $4.2M per year via CapGeek.com). Made sense at the time: GM JM was remaking the club in his own Ragtime image, and Ballard was a sensible starting point. A former 39 point scorer, he played both ends well with a physical style reminiscent of recently-retired Rob Blake. And there's this. Year One panned out rather well: 34 points (6 goals, +14) on an overachieving team who missed the postseason on a second-tier tiebreaker to Montreal.
We all know the outcome: teh Habs went nowhere in that playoff (in year number one of a seven season centennial celebration), JM bolted for those very same Canadiens, and Randy Sexton was last seen with a pen in one hand and a bloody mop in the other.
Last year Ballard sank with the rest of his troops; simply from an observer's post he never appeared comfortable. Strange, given the monster contract and all. Regardless, he was not the same player Martin had acquired. Still had the hits, kept up the physical stuff, but he was never again the guy Panthers fans fell in love with a season earlier. Almost like your hands gripped the seat/beer/remote control a little heavier when he hit the ice, hoping for the best.
Ultimately he was a "Martin" guy, and that may well have been his undoing in SoFla. Rather jarring that Tallon would deal this guy away, a dood who (publicly) espoused a rah-rah, it's-all-about-the-team persona. Jarring, but refreshing as well.
The caveat? We'll miss his presence. Not to the point that games will be lost due to his absence, but he was simply a decent guy. Ballard will do fine in LuongoLand. Another "change of scenery" situation, just unfortunate it didn't happen in Sunrise. He's a genuinely nice guy with killer instincts coming off a bad year. All the best to him.
For more on the Vancouver end, check out our sister ship Nucks Misconduct for reaction.
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I think Ballard was simply traded because he could bring the best return.
Having grabbed Wideman, with Ellerby and Robak in the minors, and the lock on taking Gudbranson, we could sacrifice a defenseman especially as we were thin in the forwards.
Grabner and Bernier to replace Horton with Wideman replacing Ballard is some good work by Tallon
Kind of dissappointed with last night’s picks—Think Gudbrandsun was an excellent choice. I’m even ok with #15 Minnesota’s mr hockey. But trading Ballard almost appears to be one of the old Panther GM’s trades…let’s do things on the cheap. We saved 2 million…Wideman is NOT as good as Ballard. Bob McKenzie said that Howden projects to be no better than a 3rd or 4th line Center and that he would be taking Greg Campbell’s spot eventually. Gee, if that’s the case we should have kept Campbell, he was salary friendly and we don’t have to wait 3 years for Howden to get here. Let’s hope Grabner is a real steal..Canuck fans seem upset that he is part of the trade. All these draft picks have not made me very excited…to me it is like throwing stuff against the wall and hoping it sticks, I was hoping that Tallon would take a bunch of these picks and get us a real live player—maybe a center of sorts….But, hopefully I am jumping the gun and it’s along time till training camp opens. If it opened tommorrow, looks like we could have the number one pick next year
McKenzie’s opinion is just one.
I’ve read from several different commentators many good things about Howden – a potential 2nd line LW, who is an excellent skater with great hockey smarts whose offensive potential is only help back by the fact he lacks confidence in his own ability.
Tallon has basically drafted his type of players: big, strong, determined, not flashy but with bags of potential who have the strong work ethic needed to realise that.
If we’d taken Howden at 19 I’d have been happy so to get him at 25 is superb.
I don’t agree with this. Tallon seems to be the first gm we’ve had that has made trades that don’t leave me scratching my head and wondering why. It is also the first time in a very long time that I feel we have “won” trades even though we have traded away both out best forward and defense man.
As for the Ballard trade, I love it and couldn’t believe we got so much in it. 2 starting forwards with size and speed AND a first rounder. also 2 million saved is pretty big when you’ve got scrubs like Olesz with monster contracts on the books. This is now potential free agent money.
by milhouse on Jun 26, 2010 12:37 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
OK…I thought a vancity perspective would add to it.
I am OK with Ballard, and it sounds like you guys were happy with him.
As for the two guys you got. Grabner has speed to burn, but is not the best or most consistent back checker.
He has a good shot, but could go to the corners more. Yes, he is talented, and if he totally works out, you guys win the trade. We have several guys that can push for that spot as well. It will be interesting to see what he does with top 6 ice time.
But he isn’t a lock for that, and can show frustrating periods where he gets chances and doesn’t score, and then sort of vanishes for a while.
Bernier you can have. A salary dump, and a guy that didn’t work out. A one time 1st rounder that has now been traded 4 times ( I think!) Maybe he can play to his utmost potential down there.
Our nickname for him is Stone Hands though!
So, I don’t think you guys won the trade right now. Like most trades, you need to see how the pieces work on their new teams.
I like Ballard though…some of the guys on NM a wailing and pulling their hair…swearing like sailors.
Not me…
I think you guys will like Ballard. He didn’t have a great year, and occasionally gets frustrated (see the Vokoun incident). On the other side of that is you get a good guy with a good attitude who is aware. He makes mistakes on the ice, but more often than not he fixes his own mistake. Jay Bo would turn the puck over and watch guys blow past him on the way to the goal. Ballard will do his damndest to catch that guy.
And he can line up a serious hit. You won’t have to worry as much about a guy like Byfuglien with Ballard out there. He’ll also flatten a guy like Toews as he carries the puck in (see his hit on Malkin two seasons ago).
Florida Panthers: Giving the league a punching bag since 2000.
by Johnny B on Jun 27, 2010 12:18 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Backing up Johnny 100% on this.
But I’m happy to see the contract gone.
by Donny Rivette on Jun 27, 2010 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions
ESPN website has a short article about the trade. Lebrun states that the Wild are interested in Weiss and more but more players are necessary for the trade. Could be another interesting day. Just a short note, this seemslike the real rebuilding that was promised by the owners at the trade deadline.
No trade
Weiss has a no trade clause and has told Tallon he wants to stay in Florida and play for DeBoer.
As only Gudbranson might start this year with the others being two to three years away, I cannot see what a trade of a No1 center on a good salary would bring.
I don’t think Tallon would have anything to do with it. The Wild have nothing to offer.
If the above is true, then Weiss isn’t going anywhere. Coach likes him and as much as people bitch about him, he’s not part of the problem. He’s a leader on the team and they play better when he’s in the lineup.
The only problem with Weiss is the expectation that he’s a big first line center. He just isn’t.
Florida Panthers: Giving the league a punching bag since 2000.
by Johnny B on Jun 27, 2010 12:22 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Weiss is not leaving. Count him as “untouchable”.
by Donny Rivette on Jun 27, 2010 8:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Short of a Gretzky-style offer, that is. And that ain’t happenin’.
by Donny Rivette on Jun 27, 2010 8:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Anyone notice
that with the departure of Ballard, the last American player on the Panthers is David Booth.
Oops
I was looking at position players only. Missed by that much!
by Bill Jempty on Jun 26, 2010 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Wow! Tallon goes out and adds FIVE first rounders in one afternoon (our three plus Bernier and Grabner). I will miss Ballard (and Oreskovich), but I’m looking forward to seeing what Dale does with all of the money he’s freed up by trading Ballard and Horton…
This is shaping up to be a fantastic summer!
Grabner has upside but why get him? He sounds pretty similiar to Repik to me, speed, talent, prolilfic in the AHL, defensive qestion mark. Repiks known to play with his heart on his sleeve and be a clutch guy, Grabner?. I would give the nod to Repik over Grabner. Grabners good but why get him when we have Repik?
Bernier is big but doesnt use his size (something Oreskovich was great at), he floats like an 07-08 Horton, he has stone hands, he’s overpaid and he puts up less points than Olesz!!! We just got a poor-mans Olesz, Why, Dale?
The pick will never be anywhere as good as Ballard. Period.
No reason for this trade.
Tallon. wants to build from the back and bring in players with size and good character. He contradicted himself 3 times with this trade.
Just another asset. Hopefully he makes the most of the opportunity.
by Donny Rivette on Jun 26, 2010 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Bernier may surprise you, but I think that’s what SJ, Buffalo and we thought too. If it makes you feel any better, he was great in the first round against the Kings. Used his body extremely well, played great on the PK. Just things we never saw in the preseason. The fact he was brought on to be with the Sedins and ended up sparingly on the 3/4 lines isn’t promising. But maybe if given a chance to be big part of the game again could help.
Worst case scenario: you move Bernier at the deadline for someone who wants a big guy if he doesn’t pan out.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Jun 27, 2010 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions
That “four teams in a young career” dealio certainly has bright headlights. Could say the same for Ballard, though Keith’s a far better defenseman than Bernier is a forward.
by Donny Rivette on Jun 27, 2010 8:56 PM EDT up reply actions
In any case, I’m happy with the transaction: re-building FLA dumps salary, grabs a highly rated prospect in need of a change of scenery – and ice time, and gobbles up a first-rounder in Bjugstad.
by Donny Rivette on Jun 27, 2010 8:58 PM EDT up reply actions
I really think Tallon was after the draft picks and prospect and just got Bernier to fill the roster spot (or because the Canucks wanted to dump him). Even if he only gets 22 points again, that’s only 7 less than Olesz for half the price.
Florida Panthers: Giving the league a punching bag since 2000.
Way to go on throwing the “O” in there ;)
by Donny Rivette on Jun 28, 2010 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions
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