[News] Vancouver waives Ballard. Update: Ballard will be bought out

[djsFlames]

Despite how undesirable the contract is, I think Feaster should grab this guy.

We've got way too much cap space at this point, might at well use it for some good. 2 years isn't bad either, and in those 2 years, we probably won't be in a position where we'll be pushing for any high price tag free agents or trade pieces to push our team "over the top" and our kids will still be on their ELCs for the most part.

[darthma]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

No one will grab him, considering you will be able to acquire him in a few days at probably half the cost.

FWIW According to capgeek there is no longer re-entry waivers. Also, you can no longer bury salary in the minors (or overseas).

http://www.capgeek.com/new-cba/

I don't know what they are doing... hahaha but I like it (from a comedy point of view).

[Yoho]

decent stop gap for the next two years of ugliness?

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

If Ballard only had 1 year left on his deal, I wouldn't mind if the Oilers picked him up. I think he is still/can be a 2nd pairing guy. In Vancouver, he was paid 5th highest on D and was behind Edler, Bieksa, Hamhuis, and Garrison.

could always buy him out next summer if it doesn't work

now that I think about it and looked at some teams caps I could definitely see someone like Edmonton/Calgary/Colorado/NYI claiming him

for the first 3 if you have to buyout next summer no issue, Isles will never spent to cap so no issue there

Calgary can trade him at the deadline if he plays well for 5 months, the other 3 all need huge upgrades on D to push for playoffs

[mrdonkey]

Not sure who I would bump off the roster if we picked up Ballard. Butler maybe. But Ballard reminds me of a $4 million version of Butler.

[memphusk]

Don't help the Canucks. Force them to buy him out, then give him the same money for 2 years. That would be superb.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by mrdonkey

Not sure who I would bump off the roster if we picked up Ballard. Butler maybe. But Ballard reminds me of a $4 million version of Butler.

Ballard can throw a mean hip check once and a while at least

[Galakanokis]

Thought Ballard wasn't too bad last year, especially early on, but he could not get out of AV's doghouse. Stop gap guy for sure but I can't see too many teams going after him on waivers. It is not always the money but the number of contracts. Teams don't want to go into the deadline with to many contracts because you lose flexibility.

He goes unclaimed and bought out shortly after.

[kyuss275]

Why would the flames want another 5-6-7 D-man? We already have Smith, Cundari, Butler and SOB to battle it out for bottom pairing. Also isn't Breen ready to make the jump? Picking up Ballard just means that Cundari and Breen probably will not get a chance.

Flames should treat the bottom pairing D like they are treating the goalie situation. Let the guys that we do have duke it out.

Now if the flames want to get a legit top 4 dman that is another story.

[Yoho]

I doubt if he get's bought out he picks the Flames to sign for half price. The nice part about this is two yr. term compared to other UFA's request July 5th

[foshizzle11]

No thanks to this. I think that we need to give our young guys the chance to just play and develop together. Will be interesting to see who we do pick up from the UFAs this summer. But I don't want Ballard.

[Hammertime]

Instead of picking up Ballard, just wait a few days and offer sheet Tanev. We get a younger dman that can also fill in as a back-up

[moon]

I wouldn't mind Ballard at that price and term. I think the two years actually works if Flames are tanking for top picks.

He could be a really key piece in drafting Reinhart and McDavid.

[CaptainCrunch]

Ballard just hasn't been good.

But Gillis has made a mistake, do you really want to piss off a Sith Lord?

[Meers]

No. He's prone to utterly boneheaded plays that end in goals - typically leaving his man to cut across for the hipcheck on a player his partner already had covered. I completely understand why he was in AV's doghouse.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

for both teams, turned out really bad

the only winner was the Islanders

That depends how Quinton Howden develops.

[killer_carlson]

If vancouver evens out the salary, id swap him for Butler.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

If vancouver evens out the salary, id swap him for Butler.

I wouldn't no way not a chance, neither are optimal choices.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by moon

I wouldn't mind Ballard at that price and term. I think the two years actually works if Flames are tanking for top picks.

He could be a really key piece in drafting Reinhart and McDavid.

Which is argument #1 why we should stay the hell away from him.

The hypocrisy of this forum is astounding when one considers how often we trash the Oilers for their plan of deliberately sucking for top picks.

[Sylvanfan]

No one is interested in doing the Canucks a favor and paying them waiver money to take on Ballard's contract. They want to see Gillis have to buy him out.