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If he's playing 12-15 mins that's fine. It's not like he's out against top lines anymore or ever will be again. If your 3rd pairing is Ballard/Phillips or vis versa, they can work with that. Ballard is a player they will need on the PP next year for sure because Gonchar is gone and Weircioch isn't ready for those important mins yet.

Again, I am very much in the camp that believes Ballard is a fantastic option now and in the future. Price matters though as I have said before.

Both Mendes and Ken Warren hint that Stone will be called up (and Grant sent down).

As for Ballard, we got too many lefties. You've got Philips, Methot and Cowen on the left for next year not to mention Wiercioch and Boro. I don't see how they make that work.

Vancouver will probably ask for a lot.

Not to mention I can't see them spending that kind of money.

Ballard and EK would be money on the PP next year though I agree.

Hoags wrote:Both Mendes and Ken Warren hint that Stone will be called up (and Grant sent down).

As for Ballard, we got too many lefties. You've got Philips, Methot and Cowen on the left for next year not to mention Wiercioch and Boro. I don't see how they make that work.

Vancouver will probably ask for a lot.

Not to mention I can't see them spending that kind of money.

Ballard and EK would be money on the PP next year though I agree.

I agree there is too many LH shots but who is going to be the LH shot on the PP next year with Karlsson? Weircioch? Maybe but I doubt they don't look for another option first. Ballard has proven he knows how to QB a 1st unit PP.

Some guys do just shut down and become a Dung player. Not saying that's the case but it happens. Stephen Weiss is looking like that in Florida this year.

Honestly most players that come from Florida become Dung.

Nathan Horton is doing fine, as does Luongo.
Jbo is doing good as well, contract not included.

NEELY wrote:
I agree there is too many LH shots but who is going to be the LH shot on the PP next year with Karlsson? Weircioch? Maybe but I doubt they don't look for another option first. Ballard has proven he knows how to QB a 1st unit PP.

Wiercioch and/or Cowen. Both of them have shown flashes that they can do it. I think Wiercioch is decent right now, he is just playing too many tough minutes in his 1st NHL season. Ideally he'd be more sheltered if we weren't so banged up. They really want to fill most positions from within.

Ev wrote:Some guys do just shut down and become a Dung player. Not saying that's the case but it happens. Stephen Weiss is looking like that in Florida this year.

Honestly most players that come from Florida become Dung.

He was fantastic in Phoenix too.

Anyways, point being, if you have any kind of PP time in Vancouver you will get a point by accident. Hell, JOB got a PP goal and he has 2 seconds of power play time in his career. Sometimes players fail because of a bad fit. Ballard was never a good fit in Vancouver, ever.

LeKing wrote:Nathan Horton is doing fine, as does Luongo.
Jbo is doing good as well, contract not included.

for what Horton was hyped as, not so much.

Frolik, nope.

Ev wrote:

LeKing wrote:Nathan Horton is doing fine, as does Luongo.
Jbo is doing good as well, contract not included.

for what Horton was hyped as, not so much.

Frolik, nope.

Point being is not everyone goes from Florida to another organization and dies. Ballard is still a good player in the right situation. Vancouver is about as bad as you can get... St.Louis would be the worst.

I don't think Ballard as a hockey player will ever be an issue for the Sens.

The issues would be:

A) He's a LH shot
B) He's a 4.2 mil cap hit and real dollars of the same amount
C) The cost of trading for him

Would Vancouver do a Gonchar for Ballard swap? I don't think we can be any worse with Ballard as opposed to Gonchar but I haven't seen Ballard play in a long time so who knows....should be Ballard + coming for Gonchar

Michallica wrote:Would Vancouver do a Gonchar for Ballard swap? I don't think we can be any worse with Ballard as opposed to Gonchar but I haven't seen Ballard play in a long time so who knows....should be Ballard + coming for Gonchar

I think maybe a Lundin and a 4th or 5th would be the deal... or for Regin. Having Gonchar right now on the PP is too important along with him on the PK where he's actually doing a pretty good job. He's not the same player he once was but the Sens need all the NHL D men they can get at this point. 3 rookies on the blueline is a lot.

NEELY wrote:I don't think Ballard as a hockey player will ever be an issue for the Sens.

The issues would be:

A) He's a LH shot
B) He's a 4.2 mil cap hit and real dollars of the same amount
C) The cost of trading for him

He's not done, that's for sure. It's good old AV not giving him a second of PP time and never really liking him. In a Mac system where it's skate, skate, skate and get the puck out of the defensive zone as quickly as possible, I bet Ballard fits in like a glove.

The problems you list are the reason he's not a Senator right now, I'm sure of it. Primarily that he's a leftie. If he was right handed, I bet Murray would make sure to get him and bolster our D for a long, long time, but again, it's not that simple to just move guys to their off wing.

The 4.2 million might be a bit of a tough sell as well, but Melnyk knows that Gonchar is leaving after this season and that's 5.5 million absolved that can be given to Ballard.

It also severely limits what you can do with Wiercioch. I get the impression that Mac would prefer working with him than sending him back down to the A (this is based on nothing more than my opinion), but I guess that could be done as well. And certainly it limits what you can do with Wiercioch next year as Cowen, Methot and Ballard/Phillips would all be starters on the left side.

Tricky one, this one. Ballard's basically perfect....except for the hand he plays and the fact that Gillis is a tool sometimes and may 'insist' on a 1st rounder.

If Gonchar leaves, a guy like Boyle makes more sense. He's a rightie and makes up for the loss of experience.

You can't just have a bunch of kids patroling your blue line no matter how talented.

On the left, it's Wiercioch and Cowen's job to lose next year. They should be better with a solid summer of training.

No one in the NHL will give up a first rounder for Ballard... too many other players teams want to have that asset for and he's not worth that to begin with anyways.

NEELY wrote:No one in the NHL will give up a first rounder for Ballard... too many other players teams want to have that asset for and he's not worth that to begin with anyways.

When there is lots of buyers, few sellers, price go up.

Paul Gaustad for a 1st rounder.

Grant just got sent down. But it could simply mean that Michalek is ready. Would like to see Stone up here and even Da Costa, but would need to send someone else back. Putting Ludin on the IR would clear up another spot.

wprager wrote:Grant just got sent down. But it could simply mean that Michalek is ready. Would like to see Stone up here and even Da Costa, but would need to send someone else back. Putting Ludin on the IR would clear up another spot.

I'm sure Stone will be coming up. Da Costa just got sent down not too long ago so I doubt he will go back.

I wonder if Pageau or Prince will get a shot later this year, they're doing well with their increased role.