Canuck-One wrote:There are three things I disagree with in all of this back and forth discussion.
2. Ballard isn't a top 4 D.
If AV had used Ballard properly we would all be saying how good he is and we would be lauding the trade. Instead he came in with a hip injury and never has been given the chance to play like he can. He is as fast as anyone else on the team. He is a great open ice hitter. He passes are strong and on the blade. He is more of an offensive D than a defensive one. Play him that way, tell him to go when he sees an opening and watch out.
3. Doan will put us over the cap if we sign him.
Lawrence Gilman was hired specifically to keep us under the cap and he does. When Gilman says we can afford Doan, that folks is something you can take to the bank. Unless of course you are of the mindset that any of us has a better understanding of the cap than Gilman. I know I don't and I wasn't offered hundreds of thousands a year to do the job either. Why oh why argue about salaries when we have the best in the business looking after it all.
Disagree on both accounts. You missed the most vital important pre-requisite to becoming labelled at 'Top 4' Defenseman, if you do not have the offensive gift that can overlook this deficiency. Ballard makes a lot of mistakes, a lot of giveaways, is a bit 'reckless abandon', very inconsistent and very unpredictable. This pretty much described Jovanovski in his prime but what seperates Jovo from Ballard was his offense, size, toughness, speed, jumping in the rush, shot from the point etc... Ballard unfortunately does not have enough X Factor to be considered top 4 Defenseman where we can all look past those deficiencies that he has, especially under the tight, structured coaching systems you see with Tippitt, Hitchcock, Babcock, AV etc.,
Sure, we can afford Doan, Booth blah, blah, but is it smart spending? No....I do not feel comfortable being squashed up against the cap with an old man like Doan and players like Booth and Ballard. I don't mind being jammed against the cap with players like Parise, Suter, Weber etc. The problem being here, we are capping out with average players and should I say, players on their last legs. Not smart managing of your funds if you ask me, not too mention during all of this, a unknown new collective bargaining agreement that hangs over all of this like a dark cloud. Plus trading a Raymond and his measly salary does not solve anything really. In fact, most GM's would call his current one - year contract -workable and chance worth taking even if it don't work out for ol' Raymond.
The bottom line, the Booth fans here are too entrenched and will not waiver in their love for him, me I don't get the love. For me, he is simply not my kind of hockey player and I find his presence on this team irritating cause of the money he makes. I like him about as much as most of you like Raymond 'sarcasm'. If Booth played with a bit more of an edge, he doesn't play with enough passion and if he could fucking look where he is going (head up) with that terrible stick handling of his, I may not mind him. I have not seen worse stick handling since Stever Bernier, in fact Booth's is worse. He's too easy going, and at times is an absolute train-wreck in our zone.
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