Comments on: Ballard loves Sunrise

By: KingCanada

KingCanada — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:39:27 +0000

Id say its close to fair market price, he would have gotten maybe 4.5 to 5 on the UFA market. Hes making Tomas Kaberle money, now THAT contract is a steal!

By: KingCanada

KingCanada — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:38:16 +0000

Oh definatly I agree his value is more. I was just shooting off the top of my head teams that might need a defenceman and the starting assets to a trade. But like you said Florida doesn't need JBO as badly as they did last season with Ballard, McCabe and Allen signed long term. The ball is in Jacques Martin's court now, let's see what savvy moves this GM will pull this year.

By: pezzz

pezzz — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:55:51 +0000

You're right about the deal with San Jose and Buffalo, but I think the price for Bouwmeester would be a lot higher than a 2nd tier forward and a 1rst round pick. Look at what the Lightning got for Meszaros, and that wasn't even at the deadline. A top 4 d-man, a young player with fair upside and a 1rst rounder. I expect the price for BO to be a solid 2nd line player, a young prospect with great uspide and a 1rst round pick. Forget Calgary, they don't need another pricy d-man. Carolina makes sense, as well as Tampa. But my guess is the New Jersey Devils.

to NJ : JBO, 4th round pick.

to Florida : Dainius Zubrus, Nicklas Bergfors, 1rst round pick.

I guess that if the Cats get rid of JBO, the impact will not be so harsh as some people think. Ballard as #1 potential, and they got Keaton Ellerby, their 1rst round pick in 07, coming soon. So their d-corp would look like this

Ballard - Allen
Ellerby - McCabe
Welch - Boynton

still a very nice d-corp, and Zubrus and Bergfors would provide very nice help up front. Bergfors has 1rst line potential.

By: KingCanada

KingCanada — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:30:08 +0000

That isnt always true. Last season's deadline trade between Buffalo and San Jose for example.

To San Jose: Brian Campbell, late pick
To Buffalo: Steve Bernier, 1st round pick

Something like...
From Carolina: Tuomo Ruutu/Patrick Eaves, 1st rounder
From Calgary: Matthew Lombardi, 1st rounder
From Tampa: Jussi Jokinen, 1st rounder

Any similar trade like that is possible and would be very beneficial to the Cats.

By: mojo19

mojo19 — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 10:15:11 +0000

If they move him at the deadline it might be tough to get an equally good forward back. Since the team they'll be trading with will most likely be looking to keep their top forwards for a playoff run.

But I definitely agree with what you're saying. I think Bouwmeester will be dealt for a couple good young forwards, or maybe one young fwd/prospect, and one veteran guy who can still finish.

By: KingCanada

KingCanada — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 08:50:54 +0000

With this signing of Ballard it looks like Florida is gearing up to be able to trade Bouwmeester by the deadline. They have too many defencemen and are expecting to loose him anyway. As much as their defence has greatly improved they still arent a playoff team in my eyes. They could get great value in trading Bouwmeester and hopefully they can get some offensive talent for him instead of a 1st round pick and a prospect.

By: Kramer

Kramer — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 22:31:56 +0000

Today orange prices crashed while lemon prices skyrocketed. What's going on in Florida?

By: mojo19

mojo19 — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:52:45 +0000

Ya considering what d-men get in free agency, that is a great signing.

By: Bure96

Bure96 — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:17:41 +0000

4 million for Keith Ballard is a steal. Young guy, big upside, and a good leader.

By: pezzz

pezzz — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:09:06 +0000

Length and money have just been confirmed. It's 25.2 millions over 6 years, making a cap hit of 4.2/year. Great signing by Jacques Martin.