What did AV say?

Doug Maclean's an idiot.

AV told Kes to use his wingers more often.

I think there is full audio on Team 1040

Hopefully this sparks Kesler, cause he hasn't been playing like 41 goal scorer Kesler...

Great post by passittobulis:

Posted via RS Mobile

Canucks' Ballard tested in bench role
By Jason Botchford, The ProvinceJanuary 14, 2012

Keith Ballard gets up from underneath Alexander Sulzer during Vancouver Canucks practice at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, B.C., Dec. 27, 2011. Ballard is behind Sulzer on the Canucks' depth chart.
Photograph by: Arlen Redekop, PNGKeith Ballard can never quite catch a break.

He was benched in St. Louis Thursday, in a game the Canucks defence surrendered the puck so frequently, it would have been easy for him to look good. Even on a bad day. Compounding it, Alex Sulzer, the surprise

starter, blocked a shot with his jaw and kept on playing. In the post-game analysis, head coach Alain Vigneault gave Sulzer a little love, underscoring the harsh reality which faces Ballard.

As a Canuck, he has never played better than he has since November.

That's by Ballard's account, and his coach's.

In 17 games, he was a plus-5 with five points. He has consciously dimmed some of the "flash" in his game, trying to provide Vigneault with what he wanted. That's less puck carrying, fewer risks and more dull. Think

of a swashbuckler without the swash and without the buckling.

But after Sami Salo suffered a concussion on that low-bridge Brad Marchand cheap shot, surprisingly - or not - Ballard was benched, passed yet again on the depth chart. He's expected to be a healthy scratch again Sunday against Anaheim. Whatever changes he's made to tailor his game to be the reliable third-pairing blueliner, it's not been enough.

"I was disappointed for sure," Ballard said. "I think I've been playing well since the middle of November. It's been my most consistent hockey since I've been here.

"I've done a lot of work mentally from last year to this year. Maybe last year at this time, I would have been doubting myself a little bit or wondering what's going on or trying to change my game or change something about my game.

"But that's not the case. That's not how I feel right now, and that's not what I'm going to do. I am mentally a 100 times stronger than I felt last year."

In revealing last year was far more difficult than he ever let on, Ballard is saying he's picked up some coping mechanisms along the way.

"After going through it, I've put in a lot of work in how to deal with adversity, and how to prepare myself better," Ballard said. "I've learned how to reflect on a game, whether it's mid-game, or mid-shift. A lot of guys think if they make two great plays they had a great game.

But that's two shifts out of 20 that you did something. What did you do the other 18?"

This time Ballard's adversity is sitting for Sulzer, and dealing with rumours the Canucks could look to trade him because he's expensive and unlikely to play much in Vancouver's top four, even if there are a series of injuries.

Sulzer is something of a journeyman who signed a two-way deal with Vancouver in the off-season because the Canucks were the only team which strongly suggested he'd have a decent chance of making the team out of

training camp.

Sulzer isn't just a fun name to say. He has a good story. He's the son of a former German Elite League player, and he's played for Germany twice at the Olympics, including in 2010. He remembers being matched up against the line of Jarome Iginila, Sidney Crosby and Eric Staal in the quarterfinal playoff game. Canada won 8-2 and Sulzer was a minus-4. It still irks him.

"I wasn't happy at all about it and I'm still not," Sulzer said.

He has some fire. Still, Sulzer's favourite line, is interesting.

"I've heard him say this quite a few times to coaches and teammates, 'Any day in the NHL is a good day,'" Vigneault said. "I think he's embracing the fact he is in the best league and when he gets an opportunity to play, he's come in and done a good job for us."

Sulzer is just happy to be here, content to be a depth guy who plays occasionally. In that spot, he's been just fine. But the expectations for Ballard were much higher than competing with Sulzer for playing time.

"At the beginning of the year, I was up and down," Ballard said. "There were games when I was skating 100 mph and making plays and then there were games where I'd have three turnovers, and I was a minus-2. It was

too much like that.

"Since mid-November, I've taken it back at both ends. There's less risk in my game. You see less flash. You see less of me trying to skate through guys and trying to do all that. I've simplified things a lot.

"In the role I'm in, that style probably best suits where I am on this team."

But that reigned-in "flash" is the reason he's making $4.2 million and a reason the Canucks went out and made the trade for him in the first place. Watching him skate, especially on one of his end-to-end rushes,

you can still see why the Canucks thought he'd be a nice fit for their up-tempo attack. Even if those rushes, never seem to go anywhere.

"But with that way of playing comes maybe a mistake or two, that I don't know if I have the leeway to make, you know?" Ballard said.

"It's not my concern to worry about whether that (lack of leeway) is fair. All that will do for me is lead to negative things and it will affect my play. I don't bother with that."

Has he lost the confidence of the coaching staff?

"It doesn't matter to me," he said. "I know the things I have to do to be successful.

"A lot of guys on this team could go to another team and play a bigger role. But if you want to be part of a successful, winning team, you have accept what you're given and do the best with it.

"For me, that's what I'd rather do. I'd rather be on a successful team than play more."

jbotchford@theprovince.com

AV is starting to show that his favortism to certain players is hurting the damn team.

a lot of folks mentioned that ballard is overrated and he's being paid too much for the ice time he gets
but i feel bad for the guy
he's right tho every little mistake he makes..he's benched
AV has him on a tight leash so ballard doesnt get a chance to prove himself again
bieksa is playing really sloppy these days yet AV even gives him a chance in the shootout

getting quite ridiculous.

How many times did we hear "Bieska shoots, blocked by _________" in the last 8-10 games?

Yet, Bieska still gets a chance in the shootout. :fulloffuck:

I hope it sparks Kesler to step up and tell management he needs time off till his leg is healed up. He's been pretty ineffective and i'm sure Hodgson is capable of stepping up and playing the 2nd line centre role for the time being. We need Kes for April till possibly June..not for January.

IMO, I haven't been impressed by Sulzers play. He coughs up the puck just as much as Ballard, if not more, and he's definitely not as physical.
AV's favouritism has always bothered me

Blocked shots I can live with. Sloppy back passes in the defensive zone that get intercepted for shot opportunities, I cannot.

Justin Faulk lays out Chris Kelly:
http://i.imgur.com/efblF.jpg

i hope to god we dont deal for parros. that guy doesn't do shit and takes retarded penalties.

Canucks

Kesler Drama Article

saw AV, Lu and Kes going to their cars last night, and they looked so choked. heads down the whole time.

Maybe that will spark something positive!:badpokerface:

Doesn't Bowness runs the D? I wonder how much say AV has on it.

IMO, Edler looks damn lost out there without Salo sometimes. Thank god we have Hamhuis.

AV is right about Kesler, all Kes has been doing almost all season is breaking down the wing and taking a shot that misses the net, the shot that worked last year is not this year, he needs to pull up and dish the puck or somthing, a centerman shouldnt be just turning over the puck every time they gain the zone

Also sometimes i think Bieksa is more concerned with "looking cool" than effective play, his non-chelant ness with the puck is not the way to play all the time, especially when your lacking confidence

Another one for the good guys, karma wins again.

looks like rask might get another shut out tonight again :heckno:

Gillis learned from Hordichuk that that kind of 4th liner isn't effective. Since then he hasn't gone out for such a player so I'm pretty sure it's safe to say Parros won't be a Canuck. Although I do like him as a player and person.

That or trying to dangle into the offensive zone. Quite painful to watch actually the few times he tries to be a finesse player. :lol

too soon junior

Watching Florida vs Boston makes me miss Jovocop. Lays a big hit (bit of elbow lol) and owns some chump in a fight.

^ need those vids posted asap

Dammit Samuelsson, why no take a shot! :yuno:

Tied with Boston now.