Comments for Undervalued and Under-Appreciated (West 2011): Recap at http://hockey.dobbersports.com , comment 1 to 6 out of 6 comments http://hockey.dobbersports.com Sat, 18 May 2013 09:27:05 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/amato/4624-undervalued-and-under-appreciated-west-2011-recap#comment-20859 I dunno I think it's a little bit of both poor management and lack of motivation on his part as well... I thought it was bad on management's part because they really didn't need him, which is why I questioned his trade to begin with. They had Ehrhoff, Edler, Salo, Bieksa and Hamhuis last season, (minus Ehrhoff this season) so at best Ballard could have been was the 6th man (5th man this season). I mean on any team you put anyone in a 5th/6th man position and they're going to struggle. It's just that it's highlighted even more when you pay your 6th man $4.2 mil when other teams spend 800k... It becomes a mismanagement of salary cap more than anything... If you can win a cup then it's justifiable, but when you get oust in the first round, that's when the peanut gallery arks up. The thing is in order for him to get more ice-time the depth needs to be cleared. Salo leaving might boost him up to a top-four position, but unless something changes I don't see how Ballard can get back into fantasy relevance given his huge salary... - Gotlaid Wed, 16 May 2012 22:37:54 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/amato/4624-undervalued-and-under-appreciated-west-2011-recap#comment-20855 Backstrom would have had a better year if Mike Yeo was not an idiot. Harding had a decent start, but then faded and Yeo kept playing him anyway. Backstrom was clearly the superior goalie and should have started more games, even with his injuries. - pattywins Wed, 16 May 2012 13:44:51 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/amato/4624-undervalued-and-under-appreciated-west-2011-recap#comment-20852 Ballard trade wasnt all that bad, his contract is pricey- but not Redden/Finger/Komisarek style. He came back from major surgery and found himself trying to find his groove on the 3rd pairing, when he was used to 1st pairing minutes and if he made a mistake, he was right back out there next shift. THen AV benches him for it. Never rebounded. Then got hurt this season after playing better, when he came back at the end of this season- he was noticably better. He is an excellent skater and as long as AV or whomever his coach is, lets him play more than 12-14 minutes a night, I wouldnt be surprised to see him rebound to the point his contract isnt seen as a burden. - Rollie1967 Tue, 15 May 2012 21:07:04 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/amato/4624-undervalued-and-under-appreciated-west-2011-recap#comment-20849 My mistake. Either way stupid trade... - Gotlaid Tue, 15 May 2012 12:20:31 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/amato/4624-undervalued-and-under-appreciated-west-2011-recap#comment-20848 you nailed most of them. Smith was a tough one - hawkdog Tue, 15 May 2012 10:43:58 +0100 http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php/columnistsarticles-mainmenu-77/amato/4624-undervalued-and-under-appreciated-west-2011-recap#comment-20839 Actually the Canucks never signed Keith Ballard to that contract, the Florida Panthers signed him to that to help reach the cap floor. They were just smart enough to trade him to Vancouver with his contract in tow... - soothy69 Tue, 15 May 2012 04:48:47 +0100