Lets Get Serious

Is Rome really better then Ballard?

Does Ballard have an undisclosed nagging injury?

Is there problems behind closed doors, and it’s not necessarily his play that are keeping him out?



I wish I knew because it’s driving me insane. I know I started this blog because he is my favourite Canuck, I do not know him and I do not know everything about him. I can’t imagine how he feels right now with all these ups and downs of good games, a few slip ups in the next game and being a scratch. I know the constant questions people ask me because I have this blog frustrate and sadden me because I don’t know why it’s happening, I can imagine it’s got to be 10 times worse for Ballard himself.


This is what I do know.....




When the Canucks acquired Keith Ballard, in a trade, during the draft in June, I didn’t know all that much about him, I looked to my forum friends* for more knowledge. Slowly learning things and in training camp, during interviews he mentioned multiple times that he was excited to be in a huge hockey market, in a city that cares so much about hockey. I was instantly hooked.


I didn’t expect a whole lot at the beginning of the season, he had  just come off of off-season hip surgery. Something that kept him off his feet for part of the summer so he was behind on conditioning coming into training camp. I expected a slow start. He also had a new city, a new country, new team mates and becoming a father for the first time to get used to. Some is just part of the life of a professional hockey player, I guess.


His season did start off slow, and only got worse when he suffered a concussion on October 15th in a 4-1 loss to the LA Kings. He missed 5 games due to this and returned to the line up November 1st in a 3-1 win over the New Jersey Devils. However, he played just 4 games before sitting as a ‘healthy scratch’ for 4 games. It has since been said that he still wasn’t feeling 100% when he came back, partly due to just the lack of exercise while dealing with the concussion.


On February 7th he suffered yet another blow when only 2 minutes into a game against the Ottawa Senators he was slew footed by Milan Michalek and an MRI revealed a mild knee sprain and he was said to be out 3-4 weeks. He ended up being back sooner then expected missing only 6 games in a 15 day span. It was said at the time that he hadn’t taken a single day off, from the day he was injured he spent every day rehabbing his knee until his return against the Montreal Canadiens on February 22nd.


Through much of January through March he was paired with young Chris Tanev, a promising upcoming defencemen who ended up playing a much larger roll with the big club this year due to The Canucks blue line injury problems.  I said a few times that I couldn’t wait for a healthy blue line so that we could see what Ballard could do when he wasn’t playing a ‘babysitting’ roll being paired with Tanev. However, looking back now I can see how much Ballard actually shined in that roll, I even joked about Tanev being Ballard’s adopted son because they just worked so well together. I now miss this pairing, and would much rather see it then Alberts and Rome, although the physicality factor isn’t there with bean poll baby Tanev.


From there it just seemed to keep going down hill, not that it was ever all that high to begin with. Shortly after he came back from his knee injury he talked about how he still felt pain, and may feel pain for the rest of the season. Jason Botchford also reported that not long after coming back he was suffering from an unreported groin injury. It was around this time that everyone really started getting going on the Rome vs Ballard ice time, debates and jokes. I used to get in on it as well, more of a half joke because I honestly was not that concerned. I was positive that come the end of season and playoffs that we would see a big jump in Ballard’s play and that he would have a huge post season.

Boy was I wrong. Clearly, Ballard did not have a good season even beyond the concussion and knee problems. Looking back on past seasons his point total (7) was very low even taking into account games missed. I wonder if it’s possibly to do with the fact he just couldn’t get going for a long enough pace to feel comfortable. Certain players need set amounts of ice time and a long playing period to get comfortable, his play was broken up all season.


Now the playoffs are here and it’s a very critical time and since he didn’t have a great season, he is on a very short leash for things he can do wrong before he is scratched. After 3 games of below average hockey he was scratched for games 5 and 6 of the Blackhawks first round series. He came back and had a great game, albeit only 11 minutes TOI, in game 7  in which the Canucks won to move onto the second round. He had a great game 1, again with only 11 minutes TOI, in the Predators series and I thought maybe this was the breakout I had predicted. Then game 2 came and he did not play so well, he made a critical giveaway to Jordin Tootoo with the game tied and then was out of position on the OT goal allowing the Predators to score and tie the series 1-1.


I’m not going to debate who the  better players are, who deserves to be in because that has been beat to death. I’m going in a different direction, how all this must feel for Ballard. The big thing Alain Vigneault has said that money doesn’t determine who he plays, or how much he plays a certain player. Understandable, however, a player is paid based on how well they play and are expected to continue playing. How does Ballard feel being paid 4.2 million dollars, and he is sat in favour of a player who is paid $750,000? Does he feel that he has sunk down that much as a player? He gets to sit in the press box and watch Rome play average hockey and make the same, if not more, giveaways but still get played over him. Perhaps Rome gets more lee-way because he isn’t expected to be a star defencemen and these mistakes are more acceptable in the mind of the coaching staff. Overall, this has to be affecting his confidence in himself.


His confidence has to be pretty low, even though in a recent interview he says it hasn’t effected his confidence. When you watch interviews from the beginning of the season, or even  from just a month ago you see a happy, joking, sarcastic guy. You look at interviews over the past  couple weeks and you see someone who doesn’t look at the camera, has no jokes and is giving short Ryan Kesler like answers. Not the Keith Ballard I remember, and not the Keith Ballard I want to see. Some may attribute this to the playoffs being a more stressful important time, but take a look at Kevin Bieksa, he's actually become funnier as the playoffs progress. I think a lack in confidence in himself, brought on by the lack of confidence from the coaching staff is leading to him being a different player. He is nervous, and he’s not going to think he can do everything right, this will lead to the mistakes we see with shaky passes, bad give aways and bad penalties. 


It looks to be pretty clear that this will be the only season we see Ballard on the back of a Canucks jersey unless there are coaching changes. We all know which one is more likely. This makes me extremely sad as I know the potential Ballard has if given the proper opportunity and would love to see it with him still wearing a Canucks jersey next season. Part of me hopes he demands a trade at the end of the playoffs, and goes to a team where he can shine like he’s supposed to. I will always be a Canucks fan, they will always be my number 1, but I am also a huge Ballard fan and if he does go, I will take some liking to wherever he ends up.  The other part of me hopes that this is all just craziness and he will be back as one of the Canucks top 4 defenceman next year, playing a strong confident game and showing the coaching staff he can play the way



Look at this Video, I want to know what happened to *this* Keith Ballard.  I want that player back










*I feel the need to make it clear by forum friends, I do not mean canucks.com forums, never trust a word from there.


Finally, a bit of a disclaimer of sorts:

 Dear Keith,

 I know from reading Brad Kuzma and Brad Zeimer's articles it would almost contradict some things I've said here, so I may be completely wrong, or maybe you're just being completely professional about it. I didn't come up with these thoughts on my own, it came from many conversations and e-mail exchanges with your biggest supporters. We are all rooting for you, hope to see you back in a playoff game soon, and of course in a Canucks uniform next year. I really hope you're in next game, with the chance to eliminate the Predators on home ice and you can be down there celebrating with the team. Which might I add, is a game I am probably going to miss. Thank god for @canucksgame and twitter updates, I really do not want to miss the game but not much I can do.

Christine

I Can Breathe Again

 I've watched this like 10 times now and still get butterflies and teary eyed each time.



What. A. Game. wow.  I have so many random thoughts I'm just going to go let it all flow the best way I know how.

Dear everyone,
I'm sorry for being such a downer in my past few posts, but I honestly could not let go of games 4 and 5. To all my twitter, facebook, SF, BBM peeps, thank you for some what keeping me sane. I said yesterday morning that I wasn't going to be on facebook until after the game, all the messages, texts, bbm's and such with people saying they wanted to hear my thoughts to keep them sane made me smile. However, my thoughts last night would not have kept anyone sane. I don't think my mom even messaged me, until after the game to ask if I was still alive. Ask @chellebelle87 or @ericjjohnson79 who had the (dis)pleasure of talking to me throughout the game, at one point last night one of them  told me I have a problem, and I couldn't even take offense to it. ......or take my facebook status update when Burrows scored as an example.  

"BURROWS YOU CRAZY FRENCH BASTARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

For those who don't know me personally and don't have me on facebook, don't worry about the 'french bastard' part. If you knew my last name, you'd call me a french bastard to.  I am very happy to have all of you to talk to and cheer with moving on to round 2 and beyond.

Dear Keith Ballard,
How does it feel? I know you were 'pissed off' with the losses and being scratched. What a game last night! I LOVE your hip check, there's nothing quite like it...ok I lied...maybe an Alex Burrows goal in OT to advance to the 2nd round is a fair bit better but your hip checks are still a thing of beauty. Keep it up, I really hope I see you in every game for the rest of the playoffs, playing like you did last night or even better. I am still disapointed the jersey I won looked like crap and I had to return it. I'm going to start saving my pennies to buy one now.

Dear Roberto Luongo,
I can't lie, I criticized you and picked apart your every move over the past 7 games, but you were great. It must feel awesome to finally beat the Blackhawks. Loved your comment about it almost being better then when you helped Team Canada win gold in the 2010 Olympics, that is a lot of emotion to show through considering it's only the first round. Feel a little lighter this morning? that monkey is long gone, eh?

Dear Alex Burrows,
I hurt myself on your first goal last night. I jumped up and then realized my laptop was about to fly across the room and bent in a weird way to grab it. I can't turn my head to the left but at least, unlike last night, I can now stand up straight without crazy back pain. Not going to lie,when you took that penalty in OT I was ready to poke you in the eye but you redeemed yourself. I wanted to sleep in my Burrows jersey last night, but was pretty sure my boyfriend wouldn't be to impressed waking up to find me beside him curled up in it.

Dear Corey Crawford,
I had a love/hate relationship with watching you play, you stood on your head and I have no idea how stopped some of the Canucks shots. I was in awe watching you at some moments, and I detest everything about The Blackhawks so that is a huge compliment. You have a very promising future ahead of you, good luck (just hopefully not to much luck against the Canucks in the future, sorry)


Dear Theo Fleury,
When you made the comments the Canucks would be out in the first round, I laughed and moved on not thinking much of it. When *a few* rotten Canucks fans tried to personally attack you for it, I was disgusted. I have huge huge respect for you and admire your courage, but I have to say that I have lost some respect for you. I am in no way saying that what that fans have said to you is right, it is very wrong but you seem to be dragging it out. Is it really necessary to re-tweet everything said? and to lump all Canucks fans together as one? You seem to be finding joy in lumping all Canucks fans together with the assholes, I don't get it.  It is almost like you're doing it for personal gain, because the media has jumped on it and it's getting your name all over the place. Once again, I have read your book twice, have huge respect and admire you but lately I'm just kind of shaking my head.

Dear Dan Tencer,
What do you have to say now?

and Finally best of all....

Dear Luc,
Thank you.

Bring on round 2...and some more of this:

There Is No Sunshine and I Don't Have A Lollipop

It looks like its going to rain outside, no sun,  which reminds me of home so that's alright. I don't have a lollipop, I have way to much easter chocolate, but I'm on a diet so really it doesn't do me any good. I just can't think sunshine and lollipops, I'm having a hard time being as upbeat and optimistic as some fans.

I wish I could be like some of the fans out there and be sure of a game 7 win because it's on home ice. It's amazing how games 4 and 5 seem to be erased from some peoples minds after the great performance of last night, even though it ended in a loss. I wish I could I truly let myself believe this team is going to do it, 6 games ago I could say that but I just can't get by games 4 and 5. I'm not a bandwagon fan, I still love my team, they will always be my team but I can't wrap my head around being so sure they will do it when I just don't know anymore.

Obviously I really really hope they can do it, there is nothing else I want  more at this moment then to knock the Blackhawks out and for the Canucks to move on to round 2.  They do deserve it after the amazing season they had which gave us all this hope. People are avoiding talking about what happens if they get knocked out and Theo fleury's predication comes out true but it's all I'm thinking about. I believe in this team, I know they can do it as long as they show up.  If they do lose tomorrow I hope I can at least say they put up a good fight, they better play their hearts out.

I may pull a Luongo tomorrow and just avoid Facebook and Twitter for the day -not talk to anyone and avoid all articles in the paper and wait until after the game. May be the first time this year I don't watch the morning skate and player interviews as well. If I'm so nervous I cant even think about eating dinner right now I'm going to be a complete mess tomorrow. Not that I'm trying to hide from the Canucks haters and everyone who is just dying to be able to say ' I told you so' but maybe just my attempt to keep my mind on something other then Canucks hockey for a little bit.


Finally,Fellow Canucks fans, let Dan Tencer have his moment, let him bitch and whine all he wants. The ' Canucks fans' that he's calling out, I've met more then my share of Oiler's fans who are exactly the same way. Let him have his moment, to most he sounds like an idiot.  How he can somehow take a rant about the Canucks as a team and bring in safe injection sites in Vancouver is beyond me and just shows the kind of person he is. For the record, I disliked the guy before he even said anything about the Canucks.

I Hate Sweeping

It's true, I used to clean house's for a living, sweeping is pointless. Get a vacuum with a proper floor piece then get your lazy butt on your hands and knees and scrub that floor by hand, it's the only way your hard flooring will truly be clean. If I can do it with bum knees and being 9 months pregnant, you can do it.

I also didn't think the Canucks would sweep the Blackhawks. Ask anybody I talk to on a daily basis I have said all along that the Canucks will take it in 5 games. Even after seeing the way the Canucks were playing after the first 3 games I still said they wouldn't sweep. All day I had to bite my tongue as people on facebook and twitter were talking about Sweeping, showing pictures of brooms and all that crap. I had, however, said that the Canucks would lose game 3, not game 4 but I knew they wouldn't win both games in Chicago. Ask @ericjjohnson79 we've had a few discussions on this subject, I have to keep the hockey part of his brain alive since he's an Oilers fan...and well...we all know how they are (shh the last 2 games the Canucks played against them in the regular season really didn't happen, we were all having nightmares).

Anyway, about half way through the second last night I hoped on facebook and changed my status to

" Dear all you people and your sweep and broom talk...next time kindly shut the F*ck up"

 First off there is no denying it, I have the mouth of a trucker and if you don't like it..well...I'm sure you know what I'd tell you. I think sometimes it makes what I say seem a bit more serious then I intend..anyway,  I got quite a few responses mostly people agreeing and 'liking' of the status. This morning I woke up to a comment on it from one of my childhood friend's dad, it said:

"I was one who said that and it was my Opinion at the time, sometimes we are all wrong. At least i had the balls to say it! I hate all this hoccus pocuss bullshit that if you say something you jinx them WTF! Shut the f*ck up, I think not!"

It wasn't at all I thought people were jinxing it, I don't believe in that crap, I'm not superstitious. I was being realistic and knew the Canucks would not sweep the Blackhawks. Simple as that, I knew that even though the first 3 games may have suggested it the Blackhawks were not going to lose both games at home. Call me crazy, hate me, do what you want. It was my opinion, and it turned out to be right. I even had one person tell me this morning I'm not a true fan, because I didn't believe they were going to win it in 4?. Give your head a shake, obviously it would of been nice, and in a way I wished they had but what can you do.

In saying all that though, I did  not expect such a shit poor performance from the Canucks last night. I expected there to be some sort of fight to them, I expected a much closer game then 7-2. I do think everyone over reacting about this game needs calm down. It's one game, yes one bad game but they will bounce back. We've seen it a couple times through the season, not many times because they had such a good season and I think thats part of the problem with the fan base.  I guess if I take one thing away from this game it's how much I enjoy watching some boom boom from  Mr. Bieksa.

On a superstitious sort of front, I hate playoff beards because well... I hate facial hair in general, it makes me cringe. I do enjoy seeing the fans and even players competing and raising money for charity and how funny some of the players look as the playoffs roll along and the hair gets crazy. So I guess it's all good in the hood...ie?

 If you have managed to stay with me through all this rambling, I'm going to leave you with a quote I saw today.

"It's not about how hard you can hit, it's about how hard you can get hit and get back up"

This can be taken many different ways, but I am absolutely in love with this quote and I usually don't bother with that crap. I had a crappy night last night not even including the game so I'm taking it one way. I also have been in my share of fights, so I can take it literally. How do you take that? One response on twitter I received was

"So we better hope the boys get back up really hard and hit the living daylights out of the #Hawks? =)" @jadedkrystal 

Enjoy your day everyone.

I suck, but It's Playoff Time!!!

I haven't updated in a week, I am a horrible blogger. I'm going to blame it on the fact I've been off in lala land on pain killers dealing with an abscess tooth and trying to write something while like that is like asking Keith Ballard to score a goal. The pain is disgusting, I've had 2 kids, broken every finger on both hands, cracked my head open, broke my wrist twice and suffer from migraines that can hospitalize me, and NOTHING compares to the pain of a damn abscess tooth. The little bastard is gone now so I'm ready to move on, get off the pain killers and get back to business. I promise better stuff over the Playoffs.


Playoff time!... What does that mean for me? Not eating on game days. Sometimes I can get down breakfast and some lunch but dinner is definitely a no go, my stomach is way to crazy from being way to excited about the game. Perhaps I get a little to excited, but that's just me. I am more excited about this year then any other year in my 24 years of being a fan. I am not afraid of the Blackhawks, at all, one major reason for this is Dustin Byfuglien. I wasn't on twitter last year, which is a whole new exciting thing I'm seeing come this time of year, but if you are on my facebook you know my dislike for this guy. I believe my mom even had to tell me to watch my mouth after one game when I went off about him, and she never usually cares. However, in this game he 1. Scored a goal, 2. Screened Luongo which lead to a goal. 3. Drew a penalty (Shane O' Brien) which lead to a power play goal. That guy just makes my skin crawl, I can't stand him. I don't even like what I've seen of him off ice, but then again I usually avoid it, so maybe he is a decent person. (kind of like good ol' Patrick Kane. Ian Walker managed to change my views on him today, take a look)

Keith Ballard says he doesn't know how it can get much louder then it already is in this great piece by Jeff Paterson. Well Keith, you have no clue what you are in for, prepare your ears now.  The playoff atmosphere at Gm Place Rogers Arena is absolutely crazy, I've been there, done that. I wish I could experience it again, or just the hype in the city this time of year. Instead, I will sit alone in my living room with my (hopefully. Canada Post is going to be sorry they ever accepted my call if it's not here today) Ballard jersey on cheering my little heart out. I'd be  waving a towel to, if I had one.  Perhaps I'll even crack open a beer, it's been a long stressful week and I need it.

From @VanCanucks "Ballard on making his playoff debut: "This is what we live for. I have some butterflies, but that's natural, this is huge."


I'm ready....are you?